established a memorial fund in her memory.

Miss Sullivan died last Tuesday from complications relating to cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease and both parents must be a carrier of the gene in order for the child to be born with it. A child has a one in four chance of having the disease if both parents are carriers.

It is a life-shortening, inherited disease which affects the mucous-secreting glands of the body, especially in the bronchial tubes and in the small ducts of the pancreas.

It can lead to progressive blockage and infection, lung damage and often death. The pancreatic blockage causes poor digestion and poor absorption of food.

Miss Sullivan's sister, Andrea, who was tested for the disease and is a carrier, said the memorial fund was set up in Bermuda but the money will be sent to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust in England to help pay for research.

"England, the US and the UK have cystic fibrosis centres which are completely dedicated to the disease because it is prevalent in those countries. However in Bermuda, we do not have that type of treatment, which caused Kirsty to be at a disadvantage,'' Miss Sullivan said.

She added: "Maybe if some of the treatments available now were available when Kirsty was younger it might have helped her.

"As far as we know, Kirsty was the only person on the island to have the disease.'' Miss Sullivan added that although her sister was lively and quick-witted she later began to withdraw from social situations because she had become very thin.

"Your body deteriorates from the disease and a person cannot lead a normal life. Since Kirsty was so thin she didn't like going out,'' Miss Sullivan said, adding that people were cruel and often assumed that Kirsty was anorexic.

"It was hard for her to deal with, and she could not function as a teenager.

It was a very difficult time for her because she felt so different,'' Miss Sullivan said.

She added: "The reason why we set up the fund was because Kirsty was a very compassionate person and we knew that she would not want other children to go through what she went through.

"That is why we asked for donations for the fund in lieu of flowers after her death. Kirsty would have wanted the money to go to good use so that other cystic fibrosis patients could lead a better life than she did.'' She said the family had received donations from friends, family and employers.

Anyone interested in making a donation can send it to: The Kirsty Sullivan Memorial Cystic Fibrosis Fund P.O. Box HM 1659, Hamilton HMGX.