A DALES woman has started a charity to raise awareness of a rare genetic condition that affects her family.

Jennifer Martin, 60, of Westhouse, near Ingleton, has Lynch Syndrome (LS), and lost her niece Kirsten Lishman to the hereditary cancer last month.

A further five people in her family have been affected by the condition.

LS, which affects an estimated 70,000 people in the UK, is a rare condition that runs in families and is the most common cause of hereditary bowel cancer.

It was Kirsten’s struggle with illness, along with the death of 19-year-old fundraiser Stephen Sutton earlier this year, that inspired Jennifer to set up Lynch Syndrome UK.

“There isn’t a national charity for Lynch Syndrome,” she said, “and I kept thinking someone would pick it up but they didn’t, so it had to be me.

“Because it’s a rare condition we need to do something to get us noticed.”

People who have Lynch Syndrome have a significantly increased risk of developing colorectal cancer and an increased risk of developing other types of cancers such as endometrial (uterine), stomach, breast, and ovarian.

There is also an increased risk of a person with LS to develop multiple cancers during their lifetime, and cancer is more likely to be diagnosed at a young age.

Inspirational teen Stephen Sutton achieved national fame after raising more than £3million for charity during his three-year battle with multiple tumours.

Stephen was not diagnosed for six months after his symptoms started, despite his family history of LS.

“LS has only been mentioned very rarely in stories about Stephen,” said Jennifer.

“There are no national guidelines for it, and no regulated national screening, which is how people get missed.

“There is no one place that people can get information about LS and it is our aim to change that.

“We want to raise awareness in the general public and healthcare professionals - many of whom have never heard of LS.”

Lynch Syndrome UK is currently fundraising for its target of £5,000 to become a registered charity, and is preparing for the inaugural LS conference, which is to be held in Birmingham in April.

For details see http://www.lynch-syndrome-uk.org/.