Sisters Clair and Krista Atkins have watched an incurable lung disease reduce their once-fit grandma to a breathless invalid.

Jean Collins, who celebrated her 66th birthday on Sunday, was diagnosed as suffering from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis three years ago.

Since then her weight has plummeted, she has a constant dry cough and even walking upstairs leaves her gasping for air.

Next May her grandaughters, who live in Wellington Road, Undercliffe, Bradford, will run in the 26-mile London Marathon to raise money for the British Lung Foundation.

They will also collect cash for the Craven Breathe Easy Group where Jean is a member.

Teacher Clair, 23, said: "We've seen such a rapid change in gran since she was diagnosed. She's gone from being a very healthy and active person to not being able to move about without getting breathless.

"We just wanted to do something to help. In order to run we've got to raise a minimum of £750 which goes to the BHF. Everything else on top of that goes to the CBEG."

Clair said she jogs every day and her sister, Krista, 21, who works in a bank, had vowed not to use a bus before the marathon and use her legs instead.

Despite her illness Jean, of Owlet Road, Bolton, Bradford, tries to be as active as she can and she's absolutely thrilled at what the girls are planning to do.

She said: "I couldn't believe it when Clair and Krista said they were going to run 26 miles. They've been hard at it training but it will be a great achievement when they get past the finishing line.

"The CBEG is an absolute lifeline. It offers support for people like me who have a lung illness but also allows sufferers to get together and discuss our problems.

"You don't realise how hard it is to get on with a normal life if you are constantly out of breath. People think I've got asthma but I've never been allergic to anything. And I've never smoked.

"The doctors don't know how you get the disease but I was very ill with a viral infection 20 years ago which left scarring on my lung tissue. Maybe that was a factor.

"I know I'll never get better and I'll be on medication for the rest of my life. I'm just hoping the doctors find out what causes it."

Anyone who wants to sponsor Clair and Krista should call Clair on 07788 412717.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.