In 2018 our dad, John Brown, was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).

At 77 he was fit and healthy, still worked full time, managed to keep up with the demands of his beloved garden and whilst Dad was known to enjoy a G & T (or 2) he had never smoked – the news was devastating and came as a total shock to us all.

Affecting some 5 million people worldwide, pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive, fatal lung disease. Latest research from the British Lung Foundation suggests about 6,000 people are diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) every year in the UK. 

The cause is unknown and there is currently no cure for pulmonary fibrosis but treatments and therapies are improving all the time. The average life expectancy of someone with pulmonary fibrosis is three to five years but if it's caught early, treatment can help slow down the progression of the disease.

Pulmonary fibrosisis a disease characterized by deepened tissue in the lungs that over time becomes thick, stiff and scarred. As the lung tissue becomes more thick, the lungs lose their ability to properly provide oxygen to the bloodstream, affecting many organs, including the brain.

IPF now kills more people in the UK than leukaemia, brain or stomach cancer – yet few people have heard of it and research is chronically underfunded, according to experts.

Britons are twice as likely to die from IPF than in a road accident. The condition could be among the top five deadliest diseases in the UK within a decade unless a cure is found.

IPF can be difficult to diagnose – the most common symptoms are - shortness of breath (dyspnea);  a dry cough; fatigue; unexplained weight loss; aching muscles and joints and widening and rounding of the tips of the fingers or toes (clubbing). Dad had experienced a cough for months, perhaps over a year but never got it checked out.

Within a year dad has lost nearly 30% of his body weight and struggles to do simple tasks without getting out of breath – it is heart-breaking to see someone who was always so able to be deprived of everything which gives him pleasure. 

We are doing the South Coast Challenge, a 55km walk from Eastbourne to Hove on Saturday 31^stAugust. Our target is to raise £2000 and would appreciate any donation to help us achieve this. 

Thank you for reading, for your donation and we look forward to keeping you updated.

Best wishes, Deborah, Nichola, Kerry & Becky  xxxx

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