SEVEN years ago, Claire Naylor’s body inexplicably began shutting down.

And were it not for research breakthroughs into Goodpasture’s syndrome, the auto-immune disease which attacked her kidneys, she might not have survived.

Determined to raise funds towards vital research, the 36-year-old, who lives in Old Town, will skydive at the Purple Plunge event on March 8 in aid of Kidney Research UK.

In January 2008, Claire started suffering from what seemed to be a common cold.

At first, doctors thought she had a chest infection – but after she gained three stone in a week due to fluid retention, they began suspecting kidney failure.

Following tests, she was diagnosed with Goodpasture’s syndrome, a rare type of kidney disease which affects just one in a million people and causes the immune system to attack the kidneys and lungs.

“It was, by far, the worst time of my life,” said the administrator.

“I remember asking ‘when will my kidneys kick back in?’ and the doctor said, ‘they won’t’.

“It was a shock. It really hit me then. My kidneys would never recover. I suppose I was lucky that it didn’t affect my lungs.

“They’ve only known how to treat it for the past 20 years but they still don’t know what causes it. I remember breaking down a couple of nights in hospital. What the doctors were telling me meant nothing.”

Claire spent four weeks in hospital receiving dialysis, blood transfusions and blood tests.

Her health steadily improved and, after five months, her doctor suggested stopping dialysis for one week.

He warned her it was only temporary and she would have to start again. And yet, she has not needed dialysis since.

“I took a vow that I would do all I could to raise money for Kidney Research UK,” added Claire, who has already raised £7,000 for the charity since 2010.

“If it hadn’t been for research, doctors would not have been able to treat me.

“I have been told that it is likely I will need a kidney transplant at some time in my life but for now I am going to keep challenging myself.

“A skydive is something that has always been on my bucket list, but the fear factor has always got in the way.

“It’s very close now and I feel a bit unprepared. But if combining one of my ambitions with raising money for such a worthy cause helps to promote the amazing work done by Kidney Research UK then I will just have to be ready.”

To make a donation to Kidney Research UK or find out more about the charity go to www.kidneyresearchuk.org/purpleplunge.