A GRANDMOTHER with a life-limiting illness thanked a Lions club for a “generous” charitable donation.
Annette Priest is one of only 68 people in the UK with the rare lung condition lymph angioleio myomatosis (LAM).
Even though it restricts her day-to-day life, she is determined to raise awareness of the condition.
She is also fundraising to support others with the condition and welcomed a £500 donation from the Holmfirth and Meltham Lions Club.
Mrs Priest, 64, said: “I am really pleased with this donation because everything we can get will really help research this condition.
“It is too late for me, but a lot of the younger people with it could really be helped by more research and earlier treatment.”
Mrs Priest was one of just 15 people in the world with the condition when it was first diagnosed 23 years ago.
She is unable to go on holiday or carry out every day tasks like washing, cleaning and ironing without assistance.
She is determined to lead as normal a life as possible, despite needing oxygen 24 hours a day.
She is also a keen fundraiser for support group LAM Action, which will receive the Lions donation.
The Meltham woman added: “I have been a grandmother five times over but I can’t push the babies in their prams.
“It is very limiting. I do as much as I can and I get on with life the best I can.
“Because it is so rare, LAM Action doesn’t get any government funding.
“We rely on donations like this which really will go some way to making a difference.”
The condition mainly affects the lungs, where it causes excessive growth of muscle tissue, reducing lung function.
The only cure is a lung transplant, so people with the condition tend to need oxygen and medication to lead an independent life.
Roger Hirst from the Lions said: “Our president Martin Warriner has the opportunity to support a charity and he decided he would like to give a donation to LAM, which is a very worthy cause.
“We’re pleased to be able to help.”
