Breathe Easy!

 I did a mere 10mile run (never thought I’d say that!). From Westcliff,  along the seafront, through Chalkwell and old Leigh, onto Two Tree Island, and over the causeway to Canvey Island.  And what I really enjoyed about it was that I was running to see a group of people I am very fond of.

Once a month, lung patients and their carers on Canvey Island meet in the Paddocks Community Centre to support each other through life with a lung condition. They may have a lung condition, but they certainly managed to cheer and whoop whoop as I entered the meeting. They even presented me with £100 cheque towards my marathon efforts!

Special K and I are raising money to support people affected by lung conditions. I’ve already talked about asbestos research and campaigning in this blog. Another enormous way that the BLF helps people with lung conditions is through it’s local support and information groups, known as Breathe Easy.

Breathe Easy Canvey Island (pictured below) is a great example of the 240 support groups across the country, working to improve the quality of life for people affected by lung conditions. Many members are effected by one of the UK’s most common long term conditions – COPD (or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, a disease area which includes emphysema).  COPD in it’s simplest form is scarring of the lungs, often through smoking, and causes extreme breathlessness, recurrent chest infections, mobility problems and in more severe cases, the need for oxygen cylinders. These things can leave patients feeling isolated, misunderstood and finding life more difficult than necessary.

Breathe Easy groups however, are not about sitting around moping – they are about learning to live with lung conditions, getting on, and so it seems, having a good time with people that understand. Although there are 240 groups across the UK – there are many places which still need the support of local groups. Your donation would help to support the development of more Breathe Easy groups across the UK.

Your donation to our marathon fundraising ensures that this work will continue. Please visit: www.justgiving.com/clair-evans-marathon

Thank you for your generousity!