A Shipley woman who has a rare auto-immune disease is hoping to set up a support group for fellow sufferers.

Scleroderma is a largely unknown disease where the immune system attacks the body instead of protecting it.

Bev Myers, a marketing consultant, was diagnosed with the disease – which causes the body to over-produce the protein collagen – in her early 40s.

This eventually leaves skin thickened, muscles weakened and organs damaged. Blood flow is also impaired, which causes tissues in the fingers to break down, causing ulcers that can take years to heal.

Mrs Myers, 50, has to be monitored every year by the Rheumatology team at St Luke’s Hospital, Bradford. She takes autoimmune suppressants to stop antibodies from attacking her immune system.

She said: “The disease is incurable but the medication can stop things from getting worse. I developed really thick skin because my body was producing too much collagen but the medication has halted that.

“For me, it is manageable because of the monitoring I have had, the fact that it was caught early and the medication that I am on. But I am one of the lucky ones. There are a lot of people that are worse off than me.”

After struggling to find a support group near Shipley for scleroderma sufferers, Mrs Myers is hoping to set up her own. She said: “When I discovered that I had this disease, the first thing I wanted to do was speak to people that had the same thing, as it is so rare.’’ The Raynaud’s and Scleroderma Association (RSA) is holding an awareness campaign this week aimed in particular at people with Raynaud’s – a condition that affects ten million people in the UK – as it can be an early symptom of Scleroderma.

Anne Mawdsley, chief executive and RSA founder, has had Raynaud’s and Scleroderma for more than 30 years.

She said: “It is vital that people get the appropriate medical help and we urge anyone who is concerned about either condition to visit their doctor who will be able to provide advice and make a referral if needed.”

For an information pack call the RSA’s free helpline on 0800 917 2494 or visit raynauds.org.uk.