THE FAMILY of Simon Saggers who died of Scleroderma the day after Crosby Ravensworth Show last year is preparing to remember him this year with a fund-raising balloon race for The Scleroderma Society.

Simon, who was 32 and married with two young children, died of the connective tissue disease which affects the tissue of the joints, tendons, muscles, skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs and many other organs.

His sister, Yvette Saggers, with the help of other family members including Gail and Amy Richardson, decided to organise a giant balloon race for the charity in memory of her brother.

Yvette told The Messenger: "We feel it is a fitting to organise this event and set off the balloons at Crosby Ravensworth Show, as Simon died the day after last year's event.

"We would like to thank all the local businesses for their support and balloons are still available from Paws for Thought in Appleby; the Cumberland Building Society in Appleby; The White Horse, Kings Meaburn; Hazel Dene Nursery in Culgaith; and at the show.

"Scleroderma is sometimes called systemic sclerosis.

"The cause of Scleroderma is still unknown. We want to raise as much money for The Scleroderma Society as possible and help people like Simon who lived with this disease."

Cousin Gail is also organising a sponsored run in aid of Children With Leukaemia.

The women attended Appleby Show to collect sponsors and entrants for the balloon race and to promote the fund raising at Crosby Ravensworth Show, which is traditionally held on the last Thursday of August - August 26 this year.

THE FAMILY of Simon Saggers who died of Scleroderma the day after Crosby Ravensworth Show last year is preparing to remember him this year with a fund-raising balloon race for The Scleroderma Society.

Simon, who was 32 and married with two young children, died of the connective tissue disease which affects the tissue of the joints, tendons, muscles, skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs and many other organs.

His sister, Yvette Saggers, with the help of other family members including Gail and Amy Richardson, decided to organise a giant balloon race for the charity in memory of her brother.

Yvette told The Messenger: "We feel it is a fitting to organise this event and set off the balloons at Crosby Ravensworth Show, as Simon died the day after last year's event.

"We would like to thank all the local businesses for their support and balloons are still available from Paws for Thought in Appleby; the Cumberland Building Society in Appleby; The White Horse, Kings Meaburn; Hazel Dene Nursery in Culgaith; and at the show.

"Scleroderma is sometimes called systemic sclerosis.

"The cause of Scleroderma is still unknown. We want to raise as much money for The Scleroderma Society as possible and help people like Simon who lived with this disease."

Cousin Gail is also organising a sponsored run in aid of Children With Leukaemia.

The women attended Appleby Show to collect sponsors and entrants for the balloon race and to promote the fund raising at Crosby Ravensworth Show, which is traditionally held on the last Thursday of August - August 26 this year.