Mr Lawrence said it has been a “tough road” since his diagnosis, but explained that you “have to be brave”.

“I can’t describe it in words,” he said.

“Imagine you today, talking to friends, everything fine and then six months later you can’t pick the phone up, operate the computer, you can’t go to the bathroom, you need helpers.

“Everyone’s been so kind.”

Mr Lawrence took 625 wickets in 280 matches during a 16-year career at Gloucestershire that ended in 1997.

He made his international debut at Lord’s in 1988 and played five Test matches for England.

The Scycle For Syd event on Saturday will see fundraisers cycle the equivalent distance between Gloucestershire’s Seat Unique Stadium and Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, the country which he made his international debut against.

The event will raise money for Mr Lawrence and his family and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.