A RADCLIFFE mum is joining campaigners around the country in raising awareness of a deadly lung disease.

Joyce Herdson, who had a successful double lung transplant last year after being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), has been knitting toy sheep and hiding them across the region this year to promote organ donation.

During national IPF Week, she is backing calls from the British Lung Foundation for more research and support for patients and their families, with IPF now killing more than 5,000 people every year.

After being diagnosed with the disease, which causes a gradual scarring of the lungs, in March 2012, the mum-of-two was told that she would have only three years to live unless she could get a transplant.

Mrs Herdson, of Irwell Street, said: "In 2014 on New Year’s Day I was fortunate enough to receive an incredible gift from a stranger that saved my life.

"I will be forever grateful to my donor and their family, who in their darkest hour brought light back into mine and my family’s.

"I might not be here today if I hadn’t had my lung transplant. That’s why I’ve joined the BLF to do whatever I can to help raise awareness of IPF to help the UK move forward in providing better services and support for people with the condition so that other families won’t have to go through the same thing we did."

The disease has been on the rise in the UK for years and has no known cause or cure, meaning that barely half the people diagnosed survive longer than three years.

Activities going on across the country for the awareness week include fundraising challenges and a social media campaign.

Ruth Sabella, British Lung Foundation’s IPF Manager, said: "As rates of IPF continue to rise, we need to see significant improvements in service provision and research into the disease. With the help of people like Joyce, the BLF is determined to raise awareness of these important issues to ensure that people affected by IPF get the help and support they need."

To get involved: follow IPF Week on Twitter with the hashtag #ICareAboutIPF, or text ‘IPF’ to 70500 to donate £5.