A CYSTIC fibrosis sufferer who waged a national campaign for organ donors while fighting her own battle against illness has been awarded a special posthumous degree by university chiefs.

Robyn Tainty, 24, of Thornbury, was putting the finishing touches to her Master of Arts studies at the University of Sussex when she died last September.

The former Castle School pupil had been waiting for a lung transplant for two and a half years and spent the final months of her life campaigning for greater awareness about organ donation.

She died in the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Unit at Southampton Hospital after a long battle against the debilitating effects of the lung disease.

Her parents Stephen Large and Rae Stephenson attended the university's winter graduation ceremony in Brighton last weekend to meet University Chancellor Lord Attenborough and to collect their daughter's certificate for her Masters degree in Gender Studies.

The moving ceremony was also watched by Robyn's boyfriend and other members of her family, including her grandmother and aunt, who were invited to attend as guests of the university.

Her mother Rae, who lives in Thornbury, said: "The university decided to honour Robyn's outstanding academic work and her personal achievements by awarding her degree posthumously.

"Even though her dissertation was incomplete she received a Masters degree with Distinction - the highest mark possible - for her research into women and binge drinking.

"Before her final illness, Robyn had been preparing to start research at Sussex for a doctorate."

She said Robyn had battled all her life against the debilitating effects of the lung disease and was on course to achieve her ambition to become an academic when she died while waiting for a life-saving double lung transplant.

Robyn's father, Steve Large, who lives in Sussex, said: "She refused ever to consider herself as disabled, even in her last months, when she had to rely on a 24-hour oxygen feed, which she tolerated with her usual good humour."

University Director of Gender Studies Dr Alison Phipps said: "She is much missed by her tutors and colleagues and I am delighted that the university was able to recognise her considerable academic and personal achievements at the graduation ceremony.

"Personally, I feel very privileged to have known her."

Earlier last year Robyn made a speech in the House of Commons and last July appeared on GMTV as the "face" of National Transplant Week.

Asking people to consider signing the NHS Organ Donor Register to boost the pool of potential donors, she said: "There is so much more I want to do with my life, but I am only too aware of the huge shortage of donors.

"However, I am trying my very hardest to stay positive and enjoy what is left of my life to the best of my ability, however limited it may be."