A BRADFORD man who lives with a debilitating hand condition has spoken out about the lack of awareness surrounding the disease.

Ian Ireland, 65, from East Morton has Dupuytren’s which is also known as Viking’s Disease, because it is thought to have been brought to the UK by our Viking ancestors.

Mr Ireland’s comments come as the British Dupuytren Society is starting a campaign to spread the word to coincide with Iceland’s World Cup debut today.

The social media campaign aims to run alongside the ‘Viking Clap’, a show of support from the Iceland team’s football fans.

Mr Ireland, of Sunnydale Park, said that he tries not to let his Dupuytren’s hold him back from his motorcycling hobby.

He said: “The challenge is that treatment is not available in many places. I am lucky because my own GP is very good and helpful.”

The ‘Clap Hands for Dupuytren’s’ project will be raising awareness for the genetic disease, which causes the fingers to contract and bend inwards towards the palm so that they cannot be straightened.

Mr Ireland, who was a senior nurse himself and whose son also suffers from the condition, added: “A lot of people find that GP’s don’t know what to do and often refer them to a consultant, who then gives them an old-fashioned treatment.

“People have said that they’ve been to their doctors who have then told them to wait till it gets bad, but early intervention is the best way to treat the condition effectively.”

Anna Schurer, Chair of the British Dupuytren Society (BDS), said: “Our latest member survey has shown that there is still a real need to increase awareness of this common but little-known disease.”

She added: “We are therefore delighted to launch our ‘Clap Hands for Dupuytren’s’ campaign, which we hope will encourage as many people as possible to learn more about Dupuytren’s and to seek medical help for the condition.”

A survey by BDS of 100 GPs showed that nearly a fifth had not heard of the disease.

Everyday activities such as driving a car, unscrewing containers and clapping are the three hardest things to do as a result of the condition.

Supporters will donate a Facebook post or tweet which will be posted en masse today to pledge support.