A family have started a campaign to raise awareness of a life threatening disease after their baby was diagnosed three weeks after birth.

Doctors diagnosed one-year-old Macey Packer, pictured in pink, with Cystic Fibrosis shortly after she was born. Her family has decided to act because they feel there is a lack of understanding about the condition.

The disease affects your lungs and digestive system and can cause disability and early death. Health experts predict most sufferers won’t live after their late 30s.

Macey’s mother Mandy Martin, 29, of Newmans Road, Gravesend, her aunt Louise Packer, 30, of Livingstone Road and Louise’s sister Melanie Wood, 32, of The Crescent have combined their efforts to help the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

The trio has announced a programme of events to raise money for the charity after receiving help from local businesses.

The women have set up an auction at Perry Street Conservative Club in Perry Street on Friday, July 1 and also plan to hold a boot fair later in the year.

They are looking for local businesses and residents to step forward with prizes for the event.

A Facebook group, entitled Macey Rose Cystic Fibrosis Trust, has nearly 200 members and the group plans to promote events on the site

Melanie said: "Cystic Fibrosis is so uncommon, people just don’t know about it so we want to make people aware and raise as much money as we can."

Tickets for the auction cost £7.50 for adults and no charge for children. For more information join the Facebook group.