IPSWICH: After enduring the agonising pain of nearly losing his daughter to asthma, one Ipswich father is embarking on a fundraising mission in her honour.

Michelle Emeny has suffered from the illness all her life but during her teenage years she took a turn for the worse and was diagnosed with brittle asthma, a severe form of the respiratory illness. She has been on life support at Ipswich Hospital three times.

The 21-year-old, of Nutsford Close, has missed out on things many young people take for granted because of the severity of her asthma.

With her life hanging in the balance her father Trevor Emeny made the decision to do something to help others.

The 49-year-old, of Margate Road, is taking on a series of fundraisers, including walking to Holland, with the hope of collecting around �6,000 to be split between the Critical Care Unit at Ipswich Hospital and Asthma Research.

Early last year Mr Emeny was told his daughter Michelle was critically ill and there was nothing more doctors could do for her.

“She was on 100 per cent oxygen, the life support machines were keeping her alive,” he said. “Her organs were on the brink of shutting down and she had signs of renal failure.

“We were told she was very, very ill and there was nothing more they could do. Luckily she picked up and came out of it on her own. It was horrendous for myself, her mother and brother.”

It was when Michelle was on life support that Mr Emeny spoke to staff on the critical care unit and was told by the Matron they receive little funding.

“They are fantastic people in the critical care unit,” he said. “They are just wonderful, they fix her every time. I say thank you very much each time but they are so humble they just say it is their job.

“But if it wasn’t for them I would not have my daughter. They are life savers.”

Supported by Michelle, his son Daniel, partner Sarah Ramsey and Michelle’s mum Karen Lower, Mr Emeny is taking on his first challenge next week, a 40-mile sponsored walk. Later this year he is also organising three car boot sales, a disco night, and a Christmas dinner dance.

But the most unusual challenge will involve Mr Emeny, a truck driver, walking to Holland. The sponsored walk with a twist will take place on board a Stena Line freight ship as it sails across the channel, from Harwich to the Hoek of Holland.

Michelle said: “It is brilliant, the nurses and everybody are amazing, I don’t feel they get enough credit, so this is great.”

If you would like to support Mr Emeny and donate to the cause email him at trevoremeny67@hotmail.com.

n Are you raising money for charity? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.