Asthma UK has invested hugely in research since we began all those years ago, spending more than £50 million on it in just the past 25 years. We've also reached millions of people with life-saving advice and support.
Asthma UK scientists have also made major breakthroughs resulting in the development of new treatments that could ultimately benefit millions of people across the UK. These include flu vaccines for severe asthma, tablets for allergies and improving approaches for immunotherapy, which can have long lasting beneficial effects for people with allergic asthma.
Asthma UK is the leading asthma charity. There are over five million people with asthma in the UK, and they provide support when most needed. Asthma UK strives to no longer make Asthma a daily battle for sufferers and to ensure others do not die from the condition. They are working to make this a reality through world-leading research, award-winning information and services, and life-changing campaigns.
What They Do:
They provide helpful resources for every stage of your asthma journey and advice for everyone coping with an asthma diagnosis, including the Asthma UK Helpline.
The telephone Helpline service is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
The number to call is 0800 121 6244
You can call them with any concerns you may have about asthma. They welcome any enquiry, no matter how big or small.
They campaign and raise awareness in the media to make sure asthma is taken seriously, and everyone gets the care they deserve. They help people with asthma speak directly to politicians and decision-makers on the issues that are important to them. They have invested over £50 million into asthma research to date. They’re looking for better treatments and, ultimately, a cure which would transform the lives of people with asthma.
Get Involved
There are a number of ways you can support ASTHMA UK charity;
- You can Hold an event to raise money and awareness of the charity- This could be a sporting event such as a walk, run or cycle ride.
- An event at home in memory of a loved one.
- A community event for all ages to be involved in.
Erin's Story
In 2009, at the young age of 20, I received a phone call whilst watching The Knowing in the cinema, which changed my life completely. After receiving numerous calls on my phone, I decided to leave the cinema to take a call. At that point in time I had no idea how my world could come crashing down. Taking the call outside, my Grandma told me to remain calm and that my mum was coming to meet me at the cinema. I begged her to tell me what had happened. My grandma dropped the bombshell, my Dad, Stephen Wright, aged just 45 was dead. He had died suddenly and had just been found.
My world was upturned and when a post-mortem revealed my father had died from an asthma attack I realised just how deadly the condition can be.
I grew up with Asthma sufferers all around me. My Grandfather is an Asthma sufferer and my father the very same and now my husband is one too. There were very few times when my father didn’t have to use his nebuliser after walking up my grandparents drive. I believed my father to have unusually severe asthma, however since having researched the condition more and spoken to many sufferers on forums, I have been made aware that actually, his level of asthma was not so unusual after all.
I have decided that I would not only like to support Asthma UK in their goal to find a way to make asthma easier for sufferers, but also for my dad, a wonderfully loving man, larger than life. I have decided to give my lungs a run for their money and complete a half marathon in memory of an amazing man.
Your support would mean so much to me and the people whose lives are affected by asthma. It would be fantastic if you could dig deep and donate generously to my chosen cause, but anything would be greatly appreciated and I thank you very much in advance for supporting me. http://www.asthma.org.uk/Fundraisers/erin-jones
Is asthma serious?
Imagine being paralysed by fear as you struggle to breathe, unable to speak, unable to ask for help. That’s what an asthma attack feels like.
There are 5.4 million people with asthma in the UK, which means asthma affects one in five households. Asthma is not just an excuse to skip PE. For a quarter of a million people with severe asthma, even climbing the stairs can feel like a marathon, never mind going outside their home.
Three people die every single day because of asthma. But most of these deaths could have been avoided. Asthma UK is the charity dedicated to changing this.
Key Facts
- 5.4 million people in the UK are currently receiving treatment for asthma: 1.1 million children (1 in 11) and 4.3 million adults (1 in 12).
- Asthma prevalence is thought to have plateaued since the late 1990s, although the UK still has some of the highest rates in Europe and on average 3 people a day die from asthma.
- There were 1,167 deaths from asthma in the UK in 2011 (18 of these were children aged 14 and under)
- An estimated 75% of hospital admissions for asthma are avoidable and as many as 90% of the deaths from asthma are preventable.
Children, parents and asthma
- One in 11 children has asthma and it is the most common long-term medical condition.
- On average there are two children with asthma in every classroom in the UK.
- The UK has among the highest prevalence rates of asthma symptoms in children worldwide.
- There were 25,073 emergency hospital admissions for children in the UK in 2011-2012. That means on average there were 69 per day, or one every 21 minutes.