THE parents of a woman who died after an epileptic seizure are hoping money raised in her memory will help others with the condition.

Melanie Gallagher, of Avondale Street, Halliwell, was 39 when she died on June 4.

The Bolton Wanderers fan was found in bed by her father, Michael Gallagher — she had suffered a seizure during her sleep.

Melanie, who was diagnosed with epilepsy when she was 10 years old, would often injure herself while having seizures and on occasions had ended up in hospital after falling and banging her head on the floor.

The former Smithills School pupil was unable to work because of her condition, but Mr Gallagher, aged 71, said she never let it get her down.

“She never moaned or complained to us about it or anything like that. She was always happy and was liked by everyone. She filled our hearts with love,” he said.

Hundreds of people, including friends from Derby Ward Labour Club, attended Melanie’s funeral at Overdale Crematorium on June 14.

The family asked for donations to go to the Bolton Epilepsy Support Service, as they want the money to be spent on helping others affected by the condition.

Mr Gallagher said they wanted some good to come out of their daughter’s death.

“It has really cut us up. At first I was in such shock about it. We decided that instead of flowers we wanted to the money to go towards epilepsy care, and if anyone wants to give a donation they can.

“Anything that can help anyone else is what she would have wanted,” he said. He and his wife Barbara, aged 65, are planning to scatter their daughter’s ashes at Butlins next week.

“She loved it there and we thought it would be somewhere that we could stand and have a bit of Melanie,” he said.