SHE was the ‘bubbly and vivacious’ 23-year-old who inspired countless others to simply live and love life.

Kate Hennessy faced a lifetime battle with cystic fibrosis which left her fighting for life before she received a double lung transplant in August 2012 giving her ‘a second chance.’

Grateful to the stranger who saved her, she wrote a bucket list and pledged to use her ‘incredible gift of life’ to the full and embarked on a series of adventures before she died surrounded by her family in September following an infection.

Now less than a year after her death, her loved ones are determined her fighting spirit will live on and will launch ‘Kate’s Adventure Fund’ at the annual fundraising event Hen Fest tomorrow, which she started in 2011 as a way to raise awareness of organ donation.

The fund will enable other local cystic fibrosis sufferers over 18 to fulfil their dreams and tick items off their bucket lists.

Her mum Gail said: “Kate was very poorly however her transplant gave her a second chance at life.

“She knew anything could happen at any time and she thought ‘I’m going for it.’ She wanted to tick everything off her bucket list. And she did in a big way.

“We want to give others that opportunity and we know she would be very proud.”

Kate was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when she was four and a half months old and endured a lifetime of coping with the disease.

In September 2011 Kate was put on the transplant list when her lungs were functioning at just 29 per cent.

However facing a desperate wait for a transplant, by March 2012 she was admitted to hospital needing oxygen.

By August 2012, Kate was transferred to the specialist Harefield Hospital where her family were told the devastating news she had just days to live.

“It was very emotional seeing Kate lying in hospital with tubes coming out of her, seeing life happen around her but not being able to do anything.

“We didn’t think she would get the transplant in time. But she was still in her bed writing her bucket list of all the things she dreamed of doing to give her a focus.”

Doctors put Kate on an ECMO machine which oxygenates blood however it began to not work sufficiently and she was hours from death.

Gail explained: “It was a horrific nightmare.

“She was on the very last legs of treatment and needed a transplant within hours.”

However remarkably, Kate received the ultimate gift – the gift of life and she underwent a double lung transplant which saved her life.

Gail said: “It was just remarkable she had just hours to live. That person gave her life.

“She said she felt like a butterfly after the transplant and described flying out from the cocoon of her hospital bed. It’s very emotional to put into words exactly what that incredible gift meant.

“It gave her life and she was able to do so much even in the short time she had.”

Gail said adamant to live life and make up for lost time, Kate embarked on adventures including backpacking in Japan alone, trips to Australia, Thailand and Korea, white water rafting, bungee jumping and skydiving.

“She had four years but in that time she fell in love twice, she lived independently, she travelled.

“Kate thrived on it.

“She was hugely proud of herself and being a role model for others. She always said to everyone she knew: ‘do not let it hold you back, you can do it, just go for it.’ That was Kate."

Gail said for Kate, the annual event Hen Fest was a way to give others hope.

It grew from the garden of their home in Wimborne to a field with 500 people over two days and last year raised £14,000.

However this year, the event will return to the family home where those close to Kate will gather to celebrate her life and launch the new appeal.

Gail said: "Kate picked up a very resistant infection and in her immuno compromised state, was unable to fight the bug.

"Obviously we are completely devastated. After all she had been through, to die so soon was absolutely tragic. We don't feel able this year to put on such a large event, but we feel we need to continue with Hen Fest in some form to celebrate her life.

“She didn’t want to be a park bench.

“We know that she would be so very proud that her memory is living on in a positive way by giving others the chance to enjoy adventures and experience life’s joys. Kate travelled far and wide and really made the most of the extra four years she was given. She was only able to do this as we paid for the extortionate holiday insurance fees. Many others in her situation are unable to make the most of their limited time due to financial restrictions. We plan to enable some of these individuals to achieve their bucket list.

"We believe that this is something she would have wanted.

“We miss Kate like hell.

“Kate suffered with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and had some difficult moments but she battled through.

“She was bubbly, lively, vivacious, chatty, full of life, a live wire.

“The party would start when Kate arrived.”

To support Kate's Adventure Fund, visit http://bit.ly/2u0e2sQ