Kilkenny woman raises funds for late dad

Kilkenny woman, Lynda Jackman, has raised over €3000 in aid of the Irish Lung Fibrosis Association in memory of her late father.

Last November the Jackman family lost their much loved Dad and Grandad, Bobby, to pulmonary lung fibrosis.

Bobby, who was a non-smoker, fought the disease for almost five years, during which time his family watched him struggle for breath.

Pulmonary lung fibrosis is where scar tissue forms in the lungs making the lungs stiffen and hard for oxygen to get into the blood. There currently is no cure. 

Lynda, alongside a supportive network of family and friends including her daughter Carrie, took part in the Women’s Mini Marathon on the May Bank-Holiday weekend in an attempt to raise money and awareness for the widely unknown disease.

"We raised more than we thought we would," she said.

"Thousands do it every year for different causes but lung fibrosis wouldn’t be as well-known as other charities," adding, she wouldn't be a regular runner but made an exception to shine a light on the disease and pay tribute to her late father who is remembered fondly as a 'community man'.

"A lot of people aren’t aware of it, with some people it can be too late when it's discovered. It’s a progressive disease, there’s no cure. Men and women can suffer from it. There’s not really a local group in Kilkenny. We’re hoping something can get up and running eventually," Lynda concluded.