A MOTHER and daughter have thanked a Radcliffe woman for helping them to raise awareness about epilepsy.

Leah Calderbank, aged 16, who lives with her mum Sarah, stepfather Adam Jenkins, and younger brother Samuel, was diagnosed with the condition at four years old.

After meeting Lynn McGoff, whose 19-year-old daughter Sam died in 2009 after having a seizure at her home in Dumers Lane, Mrs Calderbank says she has been a huge support.

She said: “Lynn has been amazing in raising awareness since her daughter died.

“When mine was diagnosed we were none the wiser about epilepsy and what it entails.

“She has been active on television and through fundraisers and that has really helped.

“Lynn has inspired me and has been very supportive with information and advice.

“Her efforts have made me become more active and now I have people asking me for help and support and that is the only way people will become more aware.”

Lynn’s daughter Sam died suddenly, with no obvious cause, known as Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy, or SUDEP.

She said that if she and her husband Bill had been made more aware of the condition earlier on then it could have helped in some way.

Since Sam's death, the family have worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the condition and have raised north of £40,000 for SUDEP Action.

SUDEP Action offers free educational and training resources available to all health professionals to support their work for people with epilepsy.

Later this summer SUDEP Action will be launching an epilepsy risk and SUDEP guide for parents.

For more information, contact info@sudep.org or visit sudep.org