THE family of a Radcliffe teenager who tragically died after suffering an epileptic fit have been honoured in Parliament for their phenomenal fundraising efforts.

Lynn McGoff and husband Billy were invited for lunch at the House of Lords on Monday as recognition for years of hard work raising awareness of epilepsy, during which time they have raised more than £35,000 for charity SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy) Action.

Daughter Sam Ahearn died in July 2009 after falling downstairs while having a seizure at her home in Dumers Lane.

At the lunch, hosted by Lord Howe, the pair were joined by Bury South MP Ivan Lewis and Jane Hanna OBE, the chief executive of SUDEP Action.

Mrs McGoff, of Hutchinson Close, said: "It truly was an amazing experience and one that we will not forget. It makes all our hard work worthwhile and shows it really is getting noticed.

"When we started campaigning nobody was really talking about SUDEP, and it's great for us and other people from different areas of the country who have helped raise awareness to be recognised.

"Epilepsy is an issue that has been raised in Parliament recently to try and raise its profile. Hospitals are now stopping using epilepsy nurses because they can't afford to fund them, but this is a very serious condition. It feels sometimes like people just don't think it's important."

The Sam Ahearn Appeal, which was set up in 2010, passed its £35,000 target earlier this year, but the family have vowed to keep on fundraising and have set £40,000 as their latest goal.

Sam's sister Alice McGoff, now aged eight, recently organised a special assembly at St Mary's Primary School to raise awareness of SUDEP.

Mrs McGoff added: "We haven't held too many events lately, but we have a big ball planned for next October that is going to take a lot of preparation and will hopefully raise a lot of money.

"With still having an eight-year-old you can't keep the fundraising going all the time, you have to take time aside for family things too."