Lindsay Ward, of Barracks Road, Modbury, writes:

I have no doubt that the recent death of Richard Briers from emphysema will have brought sadness for many of us across the South Hams.

I, for one, will not forget the excitement when, as an early teen, I waited to hear the opening tune of The Good Life wondering what scrapes Tom (Briers's character) would be getting up to next. It therefore feels a timely moment to raise awareness of the sad issue of lung disease.

The excellent British Lung Foundation tell us that one in five of us will be affected by lung disease and yet it has a relatively low media profile.

For many who suffer from it the tragedy is that the causes are often occupational or even ideopathic – which means no known cause – and a common age group to be hit is the 50- plus.

Fifteen months ago, my father, a man who had lived well and was renowned for his fitness all of his life, suddenly developed breathing difficulties. He was later diagnosed with ideopathic pulmonary fibrosis for which there is no known cure and little therapy.

At almost 80, my Dad approached this with a courageous and philosphical outlook but it has taught me about the dreadful plight of sufferers and their carers who may have thought they had many years left.

Sufferers from acute lung disease face a creeping anxiety as they fear what is happening to them and a terrible loss of confidence and low self-esteem takes hold in not being able to do things for themselves.

Sleep is affected and extreme vulnerability sets in, especially for those who live alone.

Over time, the simple task of lifting a nearby phone or fork becomes an ordeal and the daily tasks of living which we all take for granted become a major demand or even impossible. It is hard to imagine but quite simply awful.

For the carers, the emotional challenge of being around someone who struggles to breathe and do simple tasks can be very disturbing, affecting sleep and daily life.

For sufferers who live alone the task of switching off a light left on by a visitor may be impossible and cause unimaginable stress.

We are lucky here in the South Hams to have an excellent lung clinic and ward at nearby Derriford Hospital.

We also have a great local franchise of the global Air Liquide, supplying oxygen to homes allowing sufferers to have a quality of life they would not otherwise enjoy.

The BLF provides wonderful support and information and has been a lifeline for me and my family at our most difficult times. I have to say too that we have learned to live with it and there are good times.

I just wanted to raise this issue with readers who may well be considering a fundraising cause for the coming year.

I want them to consider raising money for the BLF for lung research and for supporting the families affected by the range of diseases – from asthma to COPD – which affect the lungs.

I am a great supporter of raising awareness of any life-limmiting disease but this is a good time to highlight those diseases affecting the lungs.

One in five is a big statistic and while dad and I have adjusted to what we have faced in the last year, that adjustment was made so much easier thanks to the BLF.

I would hope that in the future there is a cure or improved therapy for what my father has endured especially as it affects so many people out of the blue and at a much younger age when they still have so much to look forward to.