Family raise £3,000 in memory of mum whose “insides turned to china”

The family of a north-east woman who died when her “insides turned to china” have raised more than £3,000 in her memory.

Peterhead mother, Marlene Duncan, lost a harrowing battle with a little-known form of systemic scleroderma in July this year.

The disease caused the 49-year-old’s immune system to attack the connective tissue around her digestive tract. As the organs healed and scarred over, the hardened tissue gradually stopped them from working.

The dying wish of the JobCentre employee was that no other families should have to go through the heartbreak which her loved ones experienced for more than 18 months.

Mrs Duncan’s husband, Michael, said: “At the end of the day, she wanted to help others with rare conditions. If she could help someone, she would be smiling.”

The Duncan family are raising money for the Marlene’s Memories cause in an effort to support other sufferers with the rare condition.

A quiz night at Peterhead FC’s Balmoor stadium gave the campaign to raise cash for charity Scleroderma and Raynaud’s UK a big boost.

Last night, daughter Megan Duncan said: “We raised £2,324 at the fundraising quiz night and £910 from a Christmas fair raffle.

“We are delighted with all the support. We are having a bag pack on Saturday January 14 in Morrisons. Then, we are staging a 1980s night at Peterhead football club on Friday, March 17. Tickets are £10 each.”

The Duncans are also appealing to local businesses to join their campaign to battle scleroderma.

To donate to Marlene’s Memories visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/marlenesmemories