A MUM is raising funds to fight cystic fibrosis after her firstborn child was diagnosed with the disease at three weeks old.

Claire Brookhouse was left ‘heartbroken’ after her daughter Matilda Knox was diagnosed with the life-limiting condition just weeks after she was born.

Matilda, who is now aged 13 weeks old, has antibiotics, vitamins and physiotherapy twice a day in order to combat the effects of the incurable disease, which causes a build-up of thick, sticky mucus in the lungs, digestive system and other organs.

Both Claire and Matilda’s dad Barry were unaware that they were carriers of cystic fibrosis, with the condition caused by inheriting two copies of a faulty gene at birth.

Now they are on a mission to raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, with their total amount collected already standing at more than £3,000.

Chapelford resident Claire said: “It was heart-breaking when we found out Matilda’s diagnosis, because we didn’t know that we were both carriers of the gene that caused her to have it.

“When she was diagnosed we knew that we definitely wanted to do something for the charity – we want to help and do whatever we can do for them.”

After the devastating diagnosis Claire, of Verden Court, set up a JustGiving page with the aim of raising £1,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust – a target that had been smashed within five days of the page being created.

On Saturday, December 3, a race night at the Maltings pub in Old Hall added another £2,000 to the tally.

Claire added: “People that we don’t even know have been donating which is really surprising – everyone has been very generous.”

Fundraising events for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust will continue into next year – to donate go to justgiving.com/fundraising/Teammatildaroseknox.