2 minute read
Become a Better Breathing Hero!
Respiratory conditions affect so many New Zealanders – chances are that either you, a friend or a family member have been affected by asthma or another respiratory disease. Breathe Better September is the Foundation’s annual appeal month where we ask fellow Kiwis to help us to raise funds and awareness to support the 700,000 Kiwis who live with a form of respiratory disease.
This Breathe Better September we are encouraging all Kiwis to become ‘Better Breathing Heroes’ and start thinking about how they can improve their respiratory health with an active ‘Better Breathing Challenge’.
Advertisement
To get involved, all you need to do is sign up online as a Better Breathing Hero and set an active Better Breathing Challenge for the month of September. Once you have set up your fundraising profile, share the word around your friends and whānau and encourage them to donate towards your challenge. What’s even better, if you raise $20 or more, you automatically go into the draw to win some fabulous prizes!
So far over 50 individuals and teams have signed up to become a Hero and complete a Better Breathing Challenge this September, here are some of their stories...
Malakai and TJ Davidson, who live on the Kapiti Coast, have both had asthma since they were pre-schoolers. Their asthma flare-ups are often exercised induced, however cold weather and viruses also trigger symptoms. Malakai has set the challenge of doing 100 situps a day, and TJ is doing 100 star jumps a day. They’re involved in Breathe Better September to raise awareness about asthma and so they can “help all the kids to breathe properly”.
Nine year old Quinn Kara-Taihia from Hamilton has chronic asthma which has set him back from doing so many activities with his siblings and friends. “My challenge for Breathe Better September is to be able to do lot more outdoor activities without having asthma flare-ups” says Quinn. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all my whānau who have been supporting me with my illness and also to the staff at Waikato Hospital especially my Paediatric Doctor, Dr Alex Wallace who’s been a massive part of my life, and Asthma Waikato who have also gone above and beyond for myself and my whānau.”
Aimee Blok from Auckland has had asthma since she was born. She has found that keeping fit has helped her manage her asthma and she even owns her own gym! “I am taking part in the Breathe Better September Challenge as I want to raise not only funds, but awareness for those in New Zealand who live with respiratory illness” says Aimee, “I want to give them and their families hope with my story that living with asthma doesn’t mean you can’t participate in exercise, but exercise should be used to help improve the strength of your lungs plus help you understand breathing to improve symptoms.” Aimee says that her challenge of walking 50km over the month of September isn’t extravagant, however it’s a sustainable and achievable goal.
To donate towards our Heroes or to become a Hero yourself, visit
breathebetterseptember.co.nz
