The Respiratory Achievers of the Year Awards 2008

Respiratory patients, their carers and health professionals working for lung health have been honoured by the British Lung Foundation in partnership with Vitalograph.

The Respiratory Achievers of the Year Awards were launched this year to recognise the outstanding achievements of people with lung conditions and those who care for them.

Members of the public were asked to nominate exceptional candidates in four categories:

• Health Professional Respiratory Achiever of the Year
• Patient Respiratory Achiever of the Year
• Junior Respiratory Achiever of the Year
• Respiratory Carer of the Year

The Health Professional Award went to Joanne Riley of Oxfordshire, who has been a respiratory nurse specialist for eight years. During this time she has worked with chest patients in Oxfordshire and now leads a team of nine respiratory nurses who cover the whole country. Joanne is a trainer at The National Asthma and Respiratory Training Centre in Warwick and is planning to use her annual leave this year helping to teach healthcare professionals in Bangladesh how to treat asthma patients. A course of the winner's choice was also donated by Respiratory Education UK to the winner in this category.

Awards were also made to Farida Parkar, a Respiratory Nurse Specialist at Luton & Dunstable Hospital, and to Sandy Walmsley, who is part of the Solihull Respiratory Team.

The Adult Achiever Award went to Jacquie White of Wallington, Surrey, who despite having lung disease (Bronchiectasis) from the age of two, qualified as a nurse, midwife, health visitor and counsellor. Her nursing career has included managing the tuberculosis and tropical disease wards of a hospital in an undeveloped part of South Africa. She has been a ward sister of a respiratory unit in a London teaching hospital and a clinical nurse specialist in palliative care at her local hospice.

Awards were also made to Diana Hinchliffe, chair of the Breathe Easy group in Chesterfield and Malcolm Ginever, chair of the Breathe Easy Group in Nottingham, for their work as ambassadors for people with lung disease, and the positive support they provide to fellow sufferers.

The Junior Award went jointly to 15 year old Nathan Ledger of Nottingham and 13 year old Blair Manns of Gloucester.

Nathan has raised nearly £3,000 for the British Lung Foundation in memory of his father John, who died from pulmonary fibrosis in 2000.

Blair and his family have supported the British Lung Foundation since he was born in order to highlight the difficulties of looking after children and babies on home oxygen. Blair developed the lung condition Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BDP) as a result of prolonged ventilation at birth and was on home oxygen for the first 18 months of his life.

The Respiratory Carer Award went to May Hamilton of Southend on Sea, who has been a long-standing supporter and fundraiser for the British Lung Foundation. While her husband was alive May was his primary carer and together they planned a walking tour of all the piers in England. Even though her husband was confined to a wheelchair the couple completed the route and raised a staggering £7,000.

Awards were also made to Paul Matthews and Mike Heaphy, who are both carers for their wives who have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

The winners received their awards from respiratory specialist Professor Mark Britton at a ceremony in London.

"We are delighted that this event recognises people who have succeeded in improving the lives of those who have lung disease or who have made great personal achievements despite having a lung condition themselves," said Helena Shovelton, Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation.

"Although there are more than seven million people with a lung condition in the UK, it is a ‘hidden disability‘. People with lung disease feel they are invisible. They experience severe restrictions on their mobility and ability to undertake day-to-day activities, such as getting dressed or cooking a meal. Because of this they often feel their disease is overlooked by health and social services. This event allows us to thank patients, carers and health professionals alike for all their hard work and positive contributions during the past year."

Bernard Garbe, Managing Director of Vitalograph, said; "We are honoured to be joint founders of the Respiratory Achievers of the Year Awards and to applaud the efforts of those who demonstrate that living with a respiratory condition is no barrier to achievement. We also honour those medical professionals and carers who excel in supporting people with respiratory disease."

Vitalograph is a provider of respiratory diagnostic devices, clinical trials and medical equipment servicing. With a pioneering heritage of excellence spanning half a century Vitalograph continue to make valuable contributions to effective medical care and enhanced quality of life.

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