The triumphs and the adversity will be revealed

21 September 2011

The triumphs and the adversity will be revealed

The challenges of living with asthma and other respiratory conditions will come into sharp focus at the Asthma and Respiratory Achievers Awards at Government House in Wellington on 22 November.

Calling for nominations for the awards today, the Asthma Foundation’s Chief Executive, Angela Francis, said: “The Achievers Awards acknowledge and celebrate New Zealanders who achieve things in their lives despite the challenges caused by their respiratory conditions.”

On 22 November, a group of up to nine Supreme Achievers will be presented with awards by the Governor–General, His Excellency Lt Gen The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae, at Government House in Wellington.

“We have had inspiring people win our Supreme Achievers awards. People can do remarkable things even when they face barriers to success, sometimes huge barriers. People still come through against the odds, “Angela says.

The awards are held every two years and reflecting on the 2009 awards, Angela says: “I think of 12-year-old Aalyana Iosefa from Stanmore Bay in Whangaparoa. A lovely girl with severe asthma and acute allergies, Aalyana kept on working very hard at school and achieving at her usual high levels, despite losing her younger brother to asthma, and maintained a cheerful attitude. What a fabulous kid. She won the open 5 to 12 year old category with the judges noting her bravery and spirit.”

“Jason Wynyard won the Māori open category. Jason is an amazing man. He has asthma and was the 2009 World Champion of Champions Woodchopper, and the Supreme Winner of the 2008 New Zealand Māori Sports Award.

“Another man, Peter Marshall from South Canterbury – who is also President of the South Canterbury Asthma Society, is a huge inspiration to others because of his energy and caring for other people, despite the great stress COPD has caused in his life.”
The 2011 Asthma and Respiratory Awards categories are:

• Open Asthma (Adult). Māori and other adults with asthma aged 19 or over.
• Open Asthma 5 to 12 years
• Open Asthma 13 to 18 years
• Māori Asthma 5 to 12 years
• Māori Asthma 13 to 18 years
• Open COPD
• Māori COPD
• Respiratory conditions (for people with respiratory conditions other than asthma and COPD).

Nominations close on 21 October, 2011.

All nominees are automatically eligible for the Cody Forbes Award, which is named after a wonderful boy from Turangi who had Cystic Fibrosis. Cody was a Supreme Achiever in 2005, and passed away on 31 May 2007, shortly after his 16th birthday. Cody’s grace, strength of spirit, humour, and deep love for his whanau touched everyone who met him.

All nominees will receive a certificate.

The Māori categories were chosen to acknowledge the marked severity of respiratory conditions among Māori.

Nominations can be made and more information found about the awards at www.asthmafoundation.org.nz.

ENDS

© Scoop Media