Your stories

Your stories
The nurse on the helpline reassured me at a critical time in my life
Bethany is one of our volunteer ambassadors. She was motivated to join us after she found out she had congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) and found the help and advice she got from our health advice and specialist nurses really helpful. Last year, after her health deteriorated, she found herself turning again to our nurses for support. Here she tells us all about it.

Your stories
It feels like I’m drowning all the time: Lotus’s story
Lotus always had mild asthma until six years ago. Then her symptoms started getting progressively worse, until by 2023 she was so breathless that she couldn’t work full time anymore. She was diagnosed with a rare disease called Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis and now uses oxygen to help her breathe.

Your stories
When I’m hospitalised, staff assume it’s because of anxiety
Beki is a PhD student from the West Midlands. She has several health conditions including severe asthma and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). EDS is a rare inherited condition that affects connective tissue. Last May, Beki set herself a fundraising challenge to complete 180,000 steps to raise money to mark World Asthma Day and EDS Awareness Month.

Your stories
It’s a condition I’ve lived with all my life - I’ve never known any different
Joey from Wiltshire has lived with severe asthma since she was a child. She’s fundraising for Asthma + Lung UK in memory of her friend, Becky, who sadly passed away from a lung condition in August 2023.

Your stories
I still struggle sometimes but my body has learned to make up for the loss of a lung
Richard from Lancashire ran the London Marathon 2024 for Asthma + Lung UK. He had to build his endurance up gradually because he only has one lung, meaning he has less oxygen capacity than other runners, which can affect his ability to exercise. Read more about how he keeps active with his condition.

Your stories
I know that I’m incredibly lucky to still be alive
When Matt returned back from a trip from Berlin in early 2008, he became really unwell. Initially he was diagnosed with tonsillitis, then flu which escalated into an induced coma. Here he tells us about his experience and how it’s led him to take action to protect others.

Your stories
Asthma often limited what I could do - until I started running
Our supporter, 44-year-old Kevin Wood from East Lothian ran both the London Marathon and Edinburgh Marathon earlier this year. He’s had asthma since he was a child. Here he tells us how running has given him opportunities to do things he never thought possible.

Your stories
Being active has changed my life: exercise and my asthma
Chloe was diagnosed with asthma as a child. As she got older, her symptoms had completely disappeared. But when she started university, this changed. Here she tells us how getting active has helped her manage her asthma - and changed her life.

Your stories
He would have thought I was bonkers: running in memory of my uncle Keith
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.

Your stories
Stepping up to the challenge: Climbing 10 towers for lung health
Our amazing supporters at Poplar HARCA organised a unique challenge to raise money for Asthma + Lung UK. Here Alice from our community fundraising team tells us all about it.

Your stories
Celebrating some of our amazing fundraisers
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.

Your stories
After Dad died, fundraising gave me a sense of purpose
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.