MOTOR Neurone Disease (MND) is the name given to a group of related diseases affecting the motor neurones in the brain which control muscles.

Saturday marks the start of Motor Neurone Disease Association Awareness week.

Mother-of-two Chris Heslop used to teach business studies to students at the University of Central Lancashire until she was struck by a fatal brain disease.

Now she's aiming to raise awareness to help other sufferers.

Chris, 59, of Gisburn, suffers from Motor Neurone Disease -- a progressive illness that affects the brain's ability to control muscles in the body.

As the motor neurones die the muscles stop working, leaving people unable to walk and talk or feed themselves, although they can still think and feel.

Chris is unable to walk, using a wheelchair to get around, and in less than two years she 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, Chris enjoyed a full and active life with her husband and was looking forward to 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 I 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:

"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."

For further information call the Motor Neurone Disease Association 01772 745486.