Asthma Foundation: ‘Pat someone on the back’

News release

For immediate use

11 August, 2009

Asthma Foundation: ‘Pat someone on the back’

The Asthma Foundation today appealed to people who know someone with asthma or another respiratory illness with a good attitude to life to acknowledge that person by nominating them for the 2009 Asthma and Respiratory Achievers Awards.

‘This is a really positive opportunity to give someone a pat on the back and make their day. Every single nominee will receive a certificate and eight chosen Supreme Achievers will be brought to Wellington in November to be presented with an Award by the Governor-General. ‘says Foundation Executive Director, Jane Patterson.

‘And, their expenses will be covered,’ Jane says.

‘Asthma and Respiratory Achievers, including Supreme Achievers, are all sorts of people. It might be your workmate with asthma or emphysema who is really good at her job, it might be the kid next door who manages their asthma well, or someone who’s got intriguing hobbies or impressive talents,’ Jane says.

The awards are held every two years and in 2007 the Supreme Achievers included a man with only 40 percent lung capacity who walked the streets of Dunedin seven times, a woman with asthma who swam Cook Strait, a boy with asthma who was an all-round fabulous achiever at school and a man who put a lot of effort into his pulmonary rehabilitation classes.

Award nominations can be made in two main categories – Māori and non-Māori, and four sub-categories – aged 5 to 12 years; aged 13 to 18 years; adult and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).

This time the process has been streamlined to make nominating someone easy. People can make a nomination at www.asthmafoundation.org.nz; download nomination forms through the website, or email achievers@asthmafoundation.org.nz for more information.

Alternatively, if anyone wants a nomination form to fill out and send back to the Foundation, they can call Malcolm on (04) 499 4592.

ENDS

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