A FORMER university lecturer from Preston, who suffers from a fatal brain disease, is aiming to raise awareness to help other sufferers.

Mum-of-two Chris Heslop, 59, who used to teach business studies at the University of Central Lancashire, suffers from Motor Neurone Disease -- a progressive illness that affects the brain's ability to control muscles in the body.

She is unable to walk, relies on a wheelchair, and in less than two years Chris could die from the disease for which there is no known cure.

"Living with an incurable disease is rough," Chris said. "It's an emotional roller coaster for my husband and I, our family and friends. But no one said life was going to be easy, did they?"

Until she contracted the disease a year ago, retired Chris enjoyed a full and active life with her husband and was looking forward to the future with her children and three grandchildren.

She said: "We retired four years ago and had our life plans mapped out. Our plans were shattered. We spent most of the day I was diagnosed crying.

"We had to do things like tell our family our news and console them and thought: 'why me?'".

Chris first noticed problems with her leg muscles and felt tired. She consulted her doctor and was referred to a specialist for physiotherapy.

As there was no sign of the problem going away Chris was referred to a neurologist who carried out tests before giving her the worst diagnosis imaginable.

Chris said: "My MND day was just before Easter this year. My husband and I were devastated -- still are, and it's not the kind of feeling that goes away.

"I had to find out a lot of information quickly, so, I found the MND association website. My husband and I are frightened but no longer of the unknown.

"Life changed overnight and we can't imagine what it's going to be like in the future.

"My husband feels desperate for me as I am the one with the disease. I feel desperate for him as he is the one who is going to be the carer - he has a really hard task.

"We know the only thing we can do is face it together, to make the best of the times that we have in the best way possible for us." Factfile

EVERY day in the UK three people die of Motor Neurone Disease. In this country alone, MND affects over 5,000 people at any one time.

Life expectancy after the first onset of symptoms is just 2-5 years and death is normally the result of respiratory failure. There is no cure.

Professor Stephen Hawking, author of A Brief History of Time, is exceptional and has survived MND for over 30 years although famous people who have died of MND include David Niven, Don Revie, Leonard Cheshire and Jill Tweedie.

The MND association was established in 1979 and aims to ensure that affected people can ensure the care and support they need while promoting research into causes and treatments. Next Saturday marks the beginning of Motor Neurone Disease Association Awareness week, which runs until 24 June.

For further information call 01772 745486.