BREATHE EASY
Breathe Easy is the support network of the British Lung Foundation providing information, support and friendship to all people living with a lung condition, their family, friends and carers. Over 22,000 people are involved in over 130 patient support groups, varying in size from 20 to 500. First started in 1991 by Trevor Clay who suffered from Emphysema and realised how social isolation could easily develop and therefore the importance of bringing people with lung conditions and their carers together for mutual support and advice.
Breathe Easy Groups usually meet every month and have a guest speaker on a subject that concerns lung patients. They also provide coffee and biscuits and time for people to chat amongst themselves. Breathe Easy has become a campaigning force for change and is supported by the British Lung Foundation. Fund raising events are common as are social occasions. Each Breathe Easy group is an integral part of the support and care that patients receive. It has also grown into a powerful campaigning force for change - through the work of patients. The British Lung Foundation has a dedicated team to support and work with the Breathe Easy network across the UK.
Breathe Easy is free to join and provides information to people with a lung condition - through the quarterly Breathing Space magazine, information leaflets and booklets on lung health, as well as a Pen-Pal scheme, and access to the Breathe Easy patient support groups. (B.L.F)
Unfortunately many patients with lung conditions do not live very close to a Breathe Easy Group. However, each group has a transport organiser and it should be possible for someone to give you a lift in their car, presuming of course that you do not have one!
There is a downside to such gatherings of people in winter, and that is the risk of picking up an infection. There are a few people who occasionally turn up with hacking coughs but they are in a very small minority. In any case only severely affected COPD patients should think twice in the winter months.
It really does help to feel that there are people out there who suffer in the same way you do and its good for partners or carers to get to know more about the diseases.
The British Lung Foundation also runs a pen pals scheme so why not sign up now.
FOR YOUR NEAREST BREATHE EASY GROUP AND HOW TO SIGN UP GO TO FINDING OUT PAGE