LUCKY-to-be-alive Margaret Ainscow beat one of the world's rarest diseases - and piled on the pounds when she was FORCED to eat to stay alive.

Now, fully recovered, she wants to fight the flab to bring in vital cash for Bolton Hospice.

When Margaret, 39, fell ill six years ago, little did she realise that her symptoms would baffle the medical profession.

It took two years to diagnose her illness which turned out to be so rare it affects just one in six million people.

The disease, Insulinoma, caused Margaret, a former fitness instructor, to suffer two strokes - the first at aged just 33.

As a non-smoker it all came as quite a shock.

Margaret said: "No one knew what was wrong with me. At first it was like it was all in my head, but they realised that something was definitely wrong when I became paralysed down one side."

The disease affects the body's insulin levels similar to diabetes but instead of not producing enough insulin, Margaret's pancreas was producing too much.

She was forced to eat every few hours to stay alive.

Margaret, who now works at a recruitment agency, said: "I had to eat every four hours, otherwise I would become hypoglaecemic with the risk of falling into a coma.

"It is very difficult to describe how the illness felt. It was like walking on snow without leaving any footprints. It effected my mind as well as my body."

Surgeons discovered a small tumour on Margaret's pancreas which had been causing her body to over produce insulin - which controls the blood glucose levels in the body.

They removed the tumour and she was cured.

Unlike diabetes which is incurable, Margaret could enjoy a normal lifestyle again.

She explained: "As soon as I woke up after the surgery, I felt completely different. It was like waking up for the first time in two years."

The only drawback to Margaret's steady return to health, has been an extra two stones in weight which piled on as she had to eat every four hours to stop her blood sugar levels from dropping dangerously low.

Margaret said: "I'm two stone heavier - but I'm alive!"

Now she wants to fight the flab and look fabulous at 40, and raise over £7,000 for Bolton Hospice with a sponsored slim.

She said: "I lost my precious dad to cancer on January 13. He spent his final hours in Bolton Hospice where he died suddenly at the age of 79."

Weighing in at 12 stone 13lbs, Margaret hopes people will take her diet pledge to their hearts.

The cash will be used to buy pressure relieving mattresses for Bolton Hospice to bring comfort to those patients facing their final hours.

Sheadded: "The sole purpose of this interview is to raise as much awareness as possible and I would be grateful for the support of the readers of the BEN."

Margaret will be weighed once a week until the end of August when she hopes to tip the scales at a slim 10st 7lbs.

"I have no special diet in mind. I will simply eat healthily and exercise regularly, losing the weight slowly to make it easier to maintain."

Anyone who can help should contact James Emmett, community fund-raising co-ordinator, Bolton Hospice, Queen's Park Street, Bolton,BL1 4QT or by ringing Bolton 520040. Heavier Diagnose