6 months ago I lost my dad to Pulmonary Fibrosis, an awful lung disease that took away the greatest man I've ever known. My dad has never had any health problems up until September 2021 when he was diagnosed after suffering with a chronic dry cough and feeling short of breath. It came totally out of the blue and devastated us to learn that there was no cure and his only hope at survival was a double lung transplant.

My dad continued to fight right up until the end, even the doctors had said it was his mental strength that was keeping him going. But sadly his deterioration was rapid, much quicker than anyone could have anticipated and he soon found himself at the top of the urgent transplant list..

We had a small window of hope when he was called in to hospital for a lung transplant but sadly it didn't go ahead due to the lungs not being as good as expected. Unfortunately the effort of being moved in to hospital put too much strain on his body and he became critically unwell. I spent 4 days in the hospital with him and I'm so grateful that I got that time. In the early hours of Wednesday 25th January he simply said that he was tired now and passed away.

My life hasn't been the same since and never will be again, a big void has been left where he once was.

I want to do as much as I can to help other people who have pulmonary fibrosis and their families, it's a massively underfunded illness despite rising numbers so I'm going to be doing the Great North Run in memory of my Dad, any donations are greatly appreciated.

Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis (APF) is a growing community of patients, families, researchers and healthcare professionals striving to find a cure for pulmonary fibrosis so that everyone affected by the disease has a better future. We provide personalised support to patient and families - and raise awareness of pulmonary fibrosis through campaigning, fundraising and education. We are also committed to funding research to improve the quality of life for people living with pulmonary fibrosis today and tomorrow.