A CARING mum will be donning her trainers for a power walk in aid of three sisters with a life-shortening disease.

Ipswich Star: Dawn Robinson of Ipswich has five children, three of which suffer from cystic fibrosis. She is trying to raise awareness of the disease. Dawn and husband David pictured with Declan, Spring, Sophie, Scarlett and SummerDawn Robinson of Ipswich has five children, three of which suffer from cystic fibrosis. She is trying to raise awareness of the disease. Dawn and husband David pictured with Declan, Spring, Sophie, Scarlett and Summer

Julie Jones, of Taunton Close, Ipswich, has organised a 10-mile power walk to help the Robinson family reach their fundraising target £10,000 to buy a physiotherapy vest to help their daughters Sophie, 15, Scarlett, four, and two-year-old Spring in their battle against cystic fibrosis.

Mrs Jones, 43, said: “I decided this year I was going to do a fundraiser for cystic fibrosis and as soon as I read the Robinson’s story I wanted to do it for them. My sister, Michelle Joyce, died from cystic fibrosis when she was coming up to her eighth birthday in 1977.

“But back in those days she wasn’t diagnosed until she was 18 months and spent most of her childhood in hospital.”

Mum-of-three Mrs Jones, who is a carrier for the disease, added: “It’s a condition close to my heart and I was touched to meet the family for the first time last week.” Dawn Robinson and her husband David, of Clump Field, Ipswich, launched their appeal in March and have already raised more than £3,000.

Sophie was diagnosed with the condition aged eight, Scarlett at just four weeks and Spring when she was one-and-a-half years old.

The trio endure regular hospital admissions, daily physiotherapy, a cocktail of drugs and courses of antibiotics given intravenously to help them fight the condition.

The couple, who also have children Summer, nine, and Declan, eight, bought a nebuliser last Christmas which the girls use twice daily.

Money raised will be spent on a physiotherapy vest which vibrates the lungs to help improve breathing as well as a chamber and filters for the nebuliser.

The walk will start at The Royal George pub in Colchester Road, Ipswich, on Sunday, May 19 at 10am.

- How to donate: Cheques should be made payable to Mrs Robinson or Scarlett’s Health Fund and be sent c/o Lauren Everitt, Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN.