Balloons & Dancing Raise Asthma Awareness

Asthma Awareness Week

MEDIA RELEASE 2012

Impromptu dancing and exercise will highlight asthma awareness in the lead up to the Asthma Foundation’s annual Balloon Day next month.

Hilary Croft, Manager Nelson Asthma Society, says the Dance 4 Asthma campaign focuses on kids dancing to help the 600,000 kiwis with asthma. She says in the Nelson Tasman region around 3,800 children under 15 have asthma.

As part of Dance 4 Asthma in Nelson, Peta Spooner dancers are performing in Fashion Island, on Wed 2 May at lunchtime and impromptu fun dancing will take place outside Farmers on Friday 4 May.

Hilary Croft says regular exercise of any sort is good for health, but it can be difficult if you can’t breathe well. To assist there’s a new exercise session being launched during asthma awareness week.

“There’s a new BBC or Better Breathing Club starting in Richmond to teach people appropriate exercises and movements they can practice and do at home,” Hilary says. “The class also provides emotional support and information from trained professionals—and there’re refreshments afterwards.”

The BBC is at 11am -12.15pm, Wednesday 2 May at the Senior Citizens Room (behind Age Concern). Classes are also held in Nelson and Motueka. A $10 membership covers classes for the year or alternatively it is $2 a session.

The Asthma Foundation’s Asthma Awareness Week runs from 30 April to 6 May, with Balloon Day on Friday, 4 May. One in four children in New Zealand struggle to blow up a balloon due to asthma, which is why the week features balloons.

The Nelson Asthma Society will have displays and manned tables with free advice and resources in Motueka, Stoke, Richmond Mall and in Nelson during the week. People will also have the opportunity to take a quick and simple test to see if their asthma is under control. Hilary encourages anyone with asthma to work with their health professionals, have an asthma management plan, use their preventers regularly and to get a free ‘flu vaccination.
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