A Dartford actress has spoken out about the horror of watching family members battle with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Kirsty Curtis, 27, who trained at the Rose Bruford College in Sidcup and starred in Call the Midwife, Birds of Feather and Casualty, is training to run the London Marathon on April 26 after losing her beloved uncle and grandfather to MND.

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Kirsty Curtis at a fund raising party held for MNDA

Miss Curtis lost her uncle David to the disease in December 2010 after caring for him, alongside her mother, for a year.

She said: "My uncle was like my dad.

"I've not seen my dad since I was 14 so he was like the next best thing.

"My uncle was such a healthy, normal, funny bloke until one day he kept getting migraines so visited the doctors and what he found out was not what he would have dreamed about.

"It has got to be the most horrific illness I've seen, watching someone you love just change and deteriorate in front of your eyes is hard.

"The worse thing was that his body was dying but his mind was still aware."

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Youngsters enjoy the fundraising party

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The actress, who is also company director for Kent-based Bonkerz Entertainment held a superhero-themed children's party at Leigh Academy to raise cash for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) on March 29.

The party raised £728 for the charity and a further £800 pounds has been donated by generous well wishers through an online fundraising site.

A charity ball will also be held on April 11 at the Marriott Hotel in Bexleyheath.

She added: "The reason I'm doing this is that I don't think that there is enough awareness about this disease no one knows what it is or what it does.

"There is no cure at all for it.

"I am very competitive and I won't let anything stand in my way. I can't wait."

To donate to MNDA, visit justgiving.com/Kirsty-J-Curtis