NOTHING can fill the empty void left by the sudden death of a loved one and no-one knows that better than Moreton resident Maggie Padley, whose husband died from a rare lung disease at 57.

Brian Padley died 14 months ago shortly after he was diagnosed with fibrosing alveolitis, a relatively unheard-of condition which involves scarring of the lung.

Maggie has since been involved in a big musical fund-raising event to raise awareness and money for the British Lung Foundation.

Brian, a builder by trade, was an avid music fan from the age of five. At 17, Brian, originally from Chipping Norton joined a popular band called The Tatlers.

From then on, music was in his blood and throughout the years he continued to play as a guitarist and keyboard player with a number of bands in Stow, Moreton, Chipping Norton, the Vale, and much further beyond.

Having been fit and healthy all his life it came as a surprise to the family when after 12 months of regular visits to his local GP, Brian was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, a term covering a range

of lung diseases including fibrosing alveolitis.

Pulmonary fibrosis involves scarring of the lung, which causes the air sacs of the lungs to become replaced by fibrotic tissue. The tissue becomes thicker, causing an irreversible loss of the tissue's ability to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream.

Maggie said: "Being a builder, Brian had always been fit and healthy and was rarely ill. However, at the age of 56 he started to feel a bit breathless and was diagnosed as being anaemic by his doctor.

"However, after a chest X-ray in April 2004, he was diagnosed as having pulmonary fibrosis."

The find came as a deep shock to the family who knew nothing about the disease and within months Brian's condition declined. He collapsed in July and finally died in early August from pneumonia.

Maggie said: "Nobody in our family or group of friends had ever heard of the condition, we were totally in the dark. But it's a silent killer in this

country and it's important people are made aware of it. "I want people to become more aware that their lungs are precious and can't regenerate themselves. Even though it's still relatively unheard of, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD is becoming a bigger killer in women than breast cancer."

To try to come to terms with the loss of her beloved husband and doting father to his four children, Maggie organised a fund-raising musical event at the Royal British Legion Club in Moreton last month.

A total of £4,045 was raised from the event which included music from Oxford-based band Prism, who reformed for the event.

Brian's family are also very much into the music scene and keen to see his legacy continue, contributed to the musical fund-raiser.

The two eldest daughters, Rachel and Laura, would often be seen singing with their father in live gigs and his youngest daughter Debbie, has taken up the piano. Son Ian is also a keen musician and enjoys playing the guitar.

Maggie said: "Our family was devastated by Brian's death. Nothing can bring Brian back but by doing something positive it makes the loss more bearable.

"My aim now is to get more information about the British Lung Foundation and their work out into the wider community. It is very important as so many people are affected by lung diseases."

Katherine Kelly, a representative of the British Lung Foundation, said: "We'd like to say a big thank-you to Maggie, her family and friends for all their hard work. It's a big task to organise a fund-raising event but especially so after the loss of a loved one, so we are particularly grateful."

For further information about pulmonary fibrosis visit the British Lung Foundation website at www.lunguk.org. Alternatively call the helpline on 08458 50 50 20.