Your stories

Our amazing supporters never fail to impress us with their creativity and passion. This year we’ve had some truly unique fundraising, alongside the failsafe classics. Here are just a few of their stories.

In May 2024, our supporter Amy sadly lost her dad after a fall which caused his lung to collapse. He also had COPD. Here she tells us how fundraising for Asthma + Lung UK in his memory gave her a sense of purpose.

Liam’s uncle, Keith, sadly passed away from Pulmonary Fibrosis in January 2023. Liam ran the Manchester 10k earlier this year in Keith’s memory and fundraised for Asthma + Lung UK.

Our supporter Gemma ran the London Marathon this year for Asthma + Lung UK. She ran in memory of her brother, Grant, who passed away from an asthma attack. She ran alongside Grant’s lifelong friends, Kim and Andy.

Our incredible supporter Natalie took on the mighty London to Paris cycling challenge to raise awareness of just how serious asthma can be. Here she tells us all about it.

Sam Phillips from Newport ran the Cardiff Half Marathon this year in memory of her beloved son, Luke. He tragically lost his life to a sudden asthma attack in 2019, when he was just 19 years old.

Our supporter, Clarrie, took on a cycling challenge for Asthma + Lung UK. Here she tells why she took part in the challenge and how much of a difference it’s made to her wellbeing.

Our supporter Lesley ran for Team Breathe in the London Landmarks Half Marathon this year. Here she tells us about her journey to running half marathons and why supporting Asthma + Lung UK is so important to her and her family.

Our supporter, Ricky ran the Great North Run for us this year in memory of his close friend Stevie. Here he tells us why it was so important for him and how he’s helping fight for everyone’s right to breathe.

Our supporter, Rebecca took part in our Hula Hoop Challenge this year. She hula hooped for 15 minutes every day for 30 days in May. She raised over £200 to support our vital work fighting for lung health. Here she tells us how the memory of dad, Nick inspired her to take on the challenge, and how it helped improve her fitness.

Laura Gilmore, a 37-year-old Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) from Prestwick near Glasgow, will be tackling the iconic TSC London Marathon for Asthma + Lung UK Scotland for the second time.   She tells us how running helped managed her grief after losing her dad to Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, and why she’s fundraising in his memory. 

In June 2020, Philomeena’s mum, Rita, was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer and she wondered how much time she had left. Now, in 2022, Philomeena shares the story of how she has cared for her beloved mother remotely, and how Rita is beating lung cancer.

Speaking on World COPD Day, Katy Brown, 65, from Bristol, reveals how she struggled to get a COPD diagnosis during the pandemic, the challenges she faced and what has helped her through.

After being struck down suddenly by pneumonia at 33 on her son’s third birthday, our supporter, Jardine ended up on life support. Here she tells us why she’s raising awareness this World Pneumonia Day, and why it’s so important.

Andy, aged 37, was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) in 2013. He is currently waiting for a lung transplant. Here he asks our researcher, Simon a few questions about his research into PF and how it could make a difference to others with the condition.

Anita has first-hand experience of the impact stress can have on asthma, as her dad collapsed and died from a stress-induced asthma attack when she was a teenager. Anita, 49, who has asthma herself, changed her life to stop history repeating itself.

Living with a long-term lung condition can affect many aspects of your life. You’ll have physical symptoms, like getting out of breath and feeling tired. Lung conditions can also affect your mood, how you feel, and your ability to cope with daily life.

This World Mental Health Day, we’ve pulled together some tips to help you to look after your mental health right now.

Mum of two, Rebecca Grandison’s son Wilf’s has severe asthma, which controls every aspect of his life. She says it’s hard for other parents to understand the challenges their family face. Here she tells us how connecting with other parents in our support group has been really helpful for her.

Lisa Hall, 40, from Newport in Wales, was diagnosed with asthma shortly after giving birth to her son. She believes the hormonal changes following pregnancy and birth were responsible for her getting asthma and is campaigning for more research into this.

Poppy, 30, from Stratford-Upon-Avon, spent every month fearing she would end up in hospital as her hormones had such a terrible effect on her asthma. Here she shares her story.

Paul has asthma and often struggles with symptoms when the seasons change. Here he talks about how he began cycling to help control his breathing and ended up climbing to Everest base camp!

Our supporter Becky Wood shared this moving poem that her dad Nigel wrote just days before he passed away from IPF in 2021.

Dave struggled to play football when he was a child – now he cycles 100 miles a week. In this blog, he tells us his story about how he found exercise that works for his lung condition.