This fund has been set up by the family of Raymund Steele, in memory of a loving husband, wonderful father and doting grandad. Originally from Aberdeen, Ray moved to Southampton in the 1970s, where he went on to meet and marry Valerie in 1979 and together they had two children, Andrew and Holly. More recently, in September 2008, he was also blessed with the arrival of his beautiful Granddaughter, Isabel. Following a time working as a landscape gardener and even helping to create the gardens at Southampton University, he began working for Ford Motor Company in Swaythling. He remained here, working his way up to "line inspector" until his early retirement in 2001. This retirement allowed him to do more of the things he loved, like gardening, walking in the New Forest and spending time with his family. Ray and Val went on many lovely holidays together too, including a six week trip to Australia, a return journey to their honeymoon location in Madeira and several trips to their beloved Scotland. Sadly Ray had been suffering with his breathing for many months, before finally being diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) in January 2009. At the point of diagnosis he began oxygen therapy to alleviate his discomfort caused by this terrible disease, for which there is no known cure. After a strong and brave fight, Ray was taken from his family, aged 62, on 30 March 2009, due to the IPF having led to blood clots on his lungs, which could not be dispersed. None of us had heard of IPF until Ray was diagnosed with it, but now we know of it we want to do all we can to raise awareness and help to raise funds for research to help others in the future. Although nothing we can do, will bring back his love, warmth or wicked sense of humour, Holly and Andrew are hoping to arrange some fund raising events over the coming months to help raise funds for the research that is so crucial to understanding more about the causes and treatments of this terrible condition. Thank you for taking the time to read this information. Note: The above photo has been very kindly provided by Mark Archibald and Donna Marshall of Archibald Photography. (www.archibaldphotography.co.uk)