Stockport BreatheEasy Group win national awards

12.00.00pm GMT Sun 23rd Nov 2008

Helen with Jack Chell, Barbara Thornely, the winner of the "Outstanding Healthcare in the Community" Award, and Ken Wilson

Helen Foster-Grime, the North West European Parliamentary candidate for the Lib Dems, joined members and supporters of the British Lung Foundations 'BreatheEasy Stockport' organisation this week to celebrate their sweeping the board as North West winners of the charity's recent awards. The event organised by the COPD team of Stepping Hill Hospital, included an 'Awareness' stand and a tea dance in Hazel Grove to mark World COPD Day 2008.

The BreatheEasy network provides support, friendship and information for people living with a lung condition and for those who look after them. BreatheEasy is part of the British Lung Foundation, the only UK charity working for everyone affected by lung disease, whether it is asthma or lung cancer, chronic bronchitis or emphysema, or a mixture of conditions under the umbrella term of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).

Helen said, "Health issues are one of the biggest areas in which I would intend to lobby the European Parliament on behalf of the North West, and I fully back the British Lung Foundation's 'missing millions' campaign, which calls for everyone over 35 who is at risk of COPD to be offered a lung test every three years. 3.7 million people have COPD in the UK and 2.8 million don't know it. More women die of COPD than of breast cancer, and more men die of COPD than of prostrate cancer or colon cancer.

I was honoured to be invited to address the event by the hardworking Stockport BreatheEasy Group and the dedicated COPD team at Stepping Hill Hospital, and I applaud their achievements in winning these four awards for outstanding contribution to British Lung Foundation projects and outstanding service and healthcare in the community.

People living with lung conditions can often feel alone and frightened, and BreatheEasy networks combine friendship, help and support to many people, at the same time as raising awareness of lung disease and the problems it can cause. COPD is a progressive, irreversible disease, yet it is both preventable and treatable, and early diagnosis and treatment can slow the progression of the illness."

Helen, who later enjoyed a gentle quickstep with Ken Wilson, the Chairman of the BreatheEasy Stockport group, encourages people with breathing problems of any age, and their friends, to join the group by contacting the local Secretary Jack Chell on 0161 440 8775. For help and advice, there is a national helpline on 08458 50 50 20, or northwest@blf-uk.org and www.lunguk.org