When Dorrie Mottram's son was diagnosed with Crohn's disease she felt compelled to start raising awareness.

Thirteen years later, she has raised almost £50,000 and is still campaigning tirelessly for more money for research into the illness which causes inflammation of the digestive system.

Dorrie, 66, of Windmill Avenue, Hassocks, said: "My son, Kevin, was diagnosed in 1989 when he was 24.

"He is 6ft and he went down to six-and-a-half stones. He has always been a beanpole but it was quite awful. He was off work for about five months and lost his job because of it."

Kevin, now 37, had to undergo major surgery to have part of his bowel removed and took drugs to control the symptoms, which can include intense pain, sickness, diarrhoea and depression.

Dorrie said: "When Kevin was first ill, he was sent to Haywards Heath Hospital. The only information I could find was a leaflet.

"I had only heard of Crohn's disease once before and I started fund-raising because I just felt so helpless.

"Fund-raising was a way of helping Kevin by getting more money for research into Crohn's disease.

"They don't think it is genetic. One theory put forward a few years ago was it was down to too clean a living environment but my daughter was brought up in the same environment and she doesn't suffer from it."

Dorrie said Crohn's could also stunt growth and caused problems at school for children who were diagnosed.

She said: "A man had a son who was 5ft 1in when he was diagnosed at 14. More than ten years on he is still 5ft 1in.

"Another chap who lives in Portslade had to carry his birth certificate with him when he was 18 to prove he was old enough to get into pubs because the disease can cause stunted growth.

"I have had several mothers on the phone in tears because their children don't want to go to school because they have to have a different diet or they can't do something. I was fortunate Kevin was not at school when he was diagnosed."

Dorrie is busy arranging a summer concert and a Golden Jubilee fair to raise more funds.

She said: "I would say 95 per cent of the money raised has been in Hassocks.

"The community is fantastic and, without many people's help, I would not be able to do the fund-raising.

"Everyone in the family gets involved to help organise events and raise money. Kevin supports me a lot and my daughter, Tina, makes greetings cards which we can sell. I get a lot of satisfaction out of it.

"In the ten years or so I have been doing it there are several drugs which have been discovered. I like to think the money we raise has played some small part in discovering them."

The fair is at Age Concern, Hassocks, on Saturday, from 9.45am. There is a chance to win a doll with a crocheted dress, a prize in the jubilee raffle and people can browse through a wide range of stalls.

The summer concert is at Adastra Hall in Keymer Road on June 7. Tickets, priced at £3.50, are on sale at Pavilion Electrics in Keymer Road.

For further information, contact Dorrie on 01273 845291.