A WOMAN from Sutton whose Keighley-born mother died of a little known illness called IPF is launching a campaign to boost awareness of the fatal condition.

Sarah Smith, whose mother Susan Bowness died last December aged 54, also wants to raise money for the charity Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Mrs Smith explained that IPF stands for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. The illness attacks the lungs, leaving them badly scarred.

People who have the condition have severe breathing difficulties and are vulnerable to serious chest infections.

Mrs Smith said her mum, who had four sons and three daughters, was only properly diagnosed in June last year after several times being misdiagnosed as having asthma.

She was due to be assessed for a lung transplant but by the time her IPF was detected the illness was already too advanced. Mrs Bowness, who had lived in Silsden for 19 years, caught pneumonia and died in Airedale Hospital on December 21 last year.

Mrs Smith said: "There's not enough medical professionals who understand the condition because there isn't enough money for the research that's needed.

"There's about 30,000 people with IPF in the UK and 5,000 of those die every year.

"More people die of IPF every year than of leukaemia. If you're diagnosed with IPF you're given a life expectancy of only three years and that hasn't changed since 1990."

She said her mother, who was born in Bracken Bank, had lived locally all her life and moved to Silsden to be with her partner Geoff.

She was popularly known as either Sue or Suzy and had been a cook at Skipton Swimming Baths for many years. More recently she was employed as a cook at Keighley's Dragon's Den children's amusement centre.

Mrs Smith said her mum had carried on working fulltime until May last year, only reluctantly giving up when her health made it impossible to continue.

She is now organising a major awareness and fundraising gathering in her mother's memory, called "Suzy's Charity Event".

This takes place at Silsden's Sunnybank Social Club at 7pm on October 14.

It will feature a pie and pea supper, as well as live music and singing by the band Uncle Frank and acoustic soloist Ellie Carpendale.

There will be a charity auction, a raffle and a fundraising leg wax by Mrs Smith's husband Richard.

Tickets cost £5 each and the entry price includes a glass of rosé wine, which was Mrs Bowness's favourite drink.

Proceeds from the night will go towards Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Mrs Smith said she would welcome donations of money, items for the auction and prizes for the raffle.

People wanting tickets or to support the event through donations can call her on 077045 18120 or visit the Suzy's Charity Event Facebook page.