On 4th May 2018, we lost our amazing dad Alan Colclough to a life-limiting lung condition called Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Alan was a much loved Husband, Dad and Grandad, and was taken from us far too early as a result of this devastating illness.

IPF causes scarring of the lungs, leaving patients with severe breathing difficulties, persistent cough, fatigue and weight loss. If you read about IPF, it will say that patients tend to have a life expectancy of 3-5 years from diagnosis. For our Dad, there was a very quick decline in his functioning, over a period of only 4 months. He needed oxygen almost all of the time and he struggled even to get around the house. Our Dad always enjoyed travelling, walking and playing with his Grandchildren. Seeing the change in him was extremely distressing for us all.

IPF does not have a known cure and treatment options are very limited. Sadly, this may not change. But, we are determined to help raise money and awareness of this little-known condition. We want to improve the understanding and support for those who experience it, and their families. So, on Sunday 14th October, the 3 of us will be running the Manchester Half Marathon, raising money for the charity Action For Pulmonary Fibrosis in memory of our Dad.

We'd be extremely grateful if you were able to donate to our cause and help us reach our target. Thanks for reading our story, we really appreciate it. Please, give all you can!

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.