A crowd-funding project has been launched to raise money for John Spinello, the inventor of the hugely popular board game Operation, so he can receive real-life medical care.

Spinello famously sold the rights to his invention when he was a 20-year-old student for just $500.

The 77-year-old claims he was also promised a full-time job when he finished his studies but never received it.

In a video posted to YouTube on 18 October his friends and fellow game inventors, Tim Walsh and Peggy Walsh, revealed things had become tough for Spinello and his family.

The pair said they were launching the campaign to help him pay for some "much-needed medical care".

In an interview with The Huffington Post , Spinello said he needs to raise $25,000 for oral surgery and can't afford it.

Spinello said the messages he had received where overwhelming and he was autographing games as fast as they come in.

"I couldn't be happier, I hope I get writer's cramp," he added.

from BuzzFeed - Breaking http://ift.tt/1zigerl