TWO triplets are trying to come to terms with the news that they have the terminal illness which has already claimed the life of their sister.

Amanda Lindesay, from King's Acre, Hereford, was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) four months ago and has been told she has months to live.

Her identical triplet sister, Emma Richards-Ward, died in 2012 from the disease, as did her mum, Joan Richards last July, aged 75.

Her other identical sister, Vanessa Pritchard, who lives in Australia, has been diagnosed in the last month.

To raise awareness and money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA), the only national organisation dedicated to supporting people with MND, Amanda's husband, Will, is running the London Marathon in April.

Amanda, 46, helped care for Emma and her mum in Hereford.

She said: "Emma was never diagnosed because I kept taking her to the doctor but she was a 43-year-old young fit woman. She had broken her leg and they thought a lot of the symptoms were associated with that. It wasn't until she went into respiratory failure and had to be put on full life support they realised.

"I was absolutely devastated. As identical triplets, we have always been incredibly close. It was like a piece of me had gone missing."

MND progressively damages parts of the nervous system and kills six people every day in the UK.

Sufferers have a life expectancy of between two and five years.

The NHS say in about five per cent of cases there is a family history.

Amanda said she started to notice her own symptoms before her mum passed away, but didn't tell her mother.

She was diagnosed following her mother's death but there is currently no cure for the disease.

Amanda said: "It is a weird thing. You know what's going to happen and when it's going to happen.

"You don't become immune to it because you have watched it before.

"I can't change it. I know getting angry and upset won't change the situation.

"I do have bad days. I always try to appreciate and value everything in my life. It helps me and everyone around me."

She has been with Will for 20 years, and they married in 2010. She has a 23-year-old daughter called Lollie and 12-year-old twin boys called Benjamin and Daniel.

Amanda said her symptoms started with not being able to get out a chair and she noticed the muscle between her finger and thumb started to waste.

Amanda, who also had an older brother called Martin, said: "It is not just to raise funds for MNDA, they provide a lot of support and help for sufferers. It is also to raise awareness."

Will hopes to raise £10,000. To sponsor him click here.