A fund in memory of a woman who was the longest-living heart and lung transplant patient has been launched in the garden where she loved to walk.

Transplant patients from across the district gathered yesterday in the garden of Jo Hatton's home in Oakworth Road, Keighley, to see her husband Phil plant a miniature willow tree to launch the Jo Hatton Memorial Fund.

Jo, who was born with a heart defect, died this summer aged 45, after surviving for 13 years with a transplanted heart and lung.

The fund is to pay for a worker to support transplant patients, those awaiting treatment and their relatives.

It will be linked to the Transplant Support Network, set up by Phil and Jo more than three years ago.

Phil, 54, said: "The Transplant Support Network is here to stay, but it can't continue without funds.

"It was always our wish that the network would have some full or part-time staff. A national organisation such as ours cannot exist on volunteers alone."

He said the organisation now had more than 80 supporters country-wide and had been able to give support to more than of 200 families.

"We are represented on committees at Department of Health level and hopefully we will go on as long as is needed."

Among the 50 or so guests at the launch were a number of transplant patients and donors such as Bradford business manager Ali Asghar, who donated a kidney to his brother.

Also present was Adrian Asquith, a 49-year-old lung transplant patient from Shipley. He underwent the operation in August 1997 after suffering emphysema caused by smoking.

"I met Jo two years ago," Mr Asquith said. "She came round to see me and she was a great inspiration.

"As soon as I heard about the fund I wanted to get involved, and I am arranging a fund-raising event in Halifax in January.

"People facing a transplant, and afterwards, need to talk to people in the same position. It gives you so much confidence."

Throughout her life Jo was an inspiration, putting her body to the test in the Transplant Games and winning medals in the 100 metres and 800 metres.

She and Phil also enjoyed hiking holidays in the Lake District and abroad.

And her experiences helped her fulfil her ambition of becoming a writer. She spent eight years piecing together her autobiography Future Conditional, which describes her life against medical odds.

Anyone wishing to donate to the fund or wanting to make contact should write to the Transplant Support Network, KVS, 135 Skipton Road, Keighley, BD21 3AV or call (01535) 210101.

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