A SALE firm has pulled out al the stops to raise thousands of pounds to help fight a rare and incurable disease.

Staff at the Window Company have organised a series of fundraisers over the past 12 months to raise more than £8,000 for the Amyloidosis Research Fund.

They held a car wash, a concert, and took part in the Manchester Marathon and the Three Peaks Challenge to boost the fund.

This follows the firm’s success in raising £6,000 for the Sale-based Alex Hulme foundation last year.

The amyloidosis research fund is researching treatments into amyloidosis, which affects around 3,500 people in the UK.

The condition, involving abnormal protein that can lead to organ failure, is difficult to diagnose as its symptoms mimic those of other more common diseases.

The company was spurred to help the cause because employee Darren Toft's mother, Lesley, from Sale, has the condition.

Darren's younger brother, Craig, spoke about his 59-year-old mother's illness at the charity concert.

He said: "Many have not heard of the rare disease, nor of how devastating the diagnosis is and the brutality of a stem cell transplant; a treatment which leaves the body’s immune system permanently comprised.

"Mum has travelled a long very hard road and was fortunate enough to be diagnosed early. Thankfully she is now in remission."

During Lesley's treatment, the family suffered heartache when Lesley's husband, John, died after suffering a heart attack. This year’s events for amyloidosis were dedicated to his memory.

Wayne Shaw, managing director of the Window Company, said of his firm's support for the National Amyloidosis Centre (NAC): "It's a team effort. The whole team was ecstatic that we exceeded our target raising £8,165.

"Equally important was the amount of awareness raised on the way. It remains the hope of the Window Company team that if their efforts help save just one life it will have been worth it."

Lesley presented the cheque to Professor Sir Mark Pepys at The National Amyloidosis Centre (NAC) in London. Sir Mark expressed huge appreciation for the fundraising efforts of Wayne and the Window Company.

Sir Mark added: "Every penny is valued by us and our research team and used to support our endeavours to discover better treatments for sufferers.

"Everything for rare diseases costs more money.

"The NAC depends on fundraising to support its clinical work and research."

Sir Mark has invented a new treatment which is currently showing great promise in clinical trials. If proven it will be the first treatment of its kind specifically for Amyloidosis and significantly improve quality of life for sufferers.

Donations for the company’s fundraiser – called Washrockrun2016 - can be made at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thewindowco