DGudgeon

Published at 00:00, Friday, 07 January 2005

By Dave Gudgeon

A SPECIAL fund has been set up in memory of a fun-loving Carlisle woman who spent her life battling cystic fibrosis.

Maddie McGregor, who lived life to the full despite her illness, died last August aged 23.

Now her mum, Kay, has set up the Maddie McGregor FUNd in a bid to help other young adult sufferers have a good time.

And it has been boosted by a donation of £1,000-plus from pub quiz contestants at The Crown in Stanwix where Maddie was a regular.

Kay said: “The idea of the fund is to allow young adults in North Cumbria and the Newcastle area who suffer from cystic fibrosis to have some fun. It may be they want to have a day trip to Blackpool, to watch Manchester United play or just to go and enjoy a pint at the local pub.

“Maddie made the most of her life and it would be an appropriate tribute to her if this fund allowed others in her position to do the same.”

Kay, who works for the Eden Council for Voluntary Service, is applying for the fund to have charitable status.

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited genetic disease that affects the lungs, digestive system and the pancreas. Maddie had her first major operation at just three days old. She spent a lot of time in hospital and two years ago received a double lung transplant – but was back at her Scotland Road home just three weeks later.

Kay said: “When she came home from hospital in Newcastle after treatment she would put her bags down in the hall and say she was off to the Spar shop.

“She would not get back until about 2am because she’d really been to the Crown and then on to the clubs in town. Then she would order a home-delivery pizza. It was amazing at her funeral because alongside family and friends were bouncers, taxi drivers and pizza delivery staff. They all thought the world of her.

“Many people did not even realise that Maddie was ill because cystic fibrosis is an invisible illness and she never, ever complained.”

The £1,000-plus collected at the funeral is being split between the Freeman Hospital and Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

Kay said: “That is going to be spent on helping cystic fibrosis sufferers to keep in touch with their family and friends while they are receiving treatment.

“The Maddie McGregor FUNd is literally to help sufferers over the age of 18 – and there will be scores in this area – to have some fun.

“People will be able to make donations to it and apply to receive money from it by contacting me at home at 67 Scotland Road. It will be a living tribute to Maddie.”

Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk