On the 26 April the British Lung Foundation is launching its Spring Appeal to raise money for research into lung disease. Lung disease receives only 2% of UK charity medical research spend, yet every 5 minutes someone dies from lung disease and 10,000 people are diagnosed with lung disease every week.
We urgently need more research to prevent any more tragic deaths and diagnoses. While our appeal aims to raise money, we’re also aiming to raise awareness around lung conditions and what this research means to people.
Hazel, is 49 and lives in Northwich. Last year, Hazel’s husband Bob died at the age of 48, after being diagnosed with a rare form of pulmonary fibrosis called non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP). The disease has no known cure or cause.
Hazel found the unknown around the condition scary and feels if more had been known, maybe her husband and father to her children would still be here. And that his journey through his illness could have been easier, with a sense of hope rather than fear.
Hazel is determined to fund more research so others don’t suffer in the future, and she also wants to create a legacy for Bob. Following a series of Breathe4Bob fundraising events, her family have raised £10,000 for urgently needed research. Their aim is to treble this donation, and they’ve already planned lots of events in 2019. (Photo below of Hazel with family & friends climbing Mount Snowdon)
The British Lung Foundation donations page is now live: https://www.blf.org.uk/donate/spring and Hazel’s fundraising link: https://robert-reece.muchloved.com/