Asthma doesn't have to hold you back

Know someone inspiring with asthma or a respiratory illness, who should be acknowledged? The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ is now calling for nominations for the Respiratory Achievers’ Awards 2018.

Erin Simpson, television personality and celebrity ambassador for the Foundation knows all too well what it’s like living with asthma.

“I’ve had a couple of scary asthma attacks. One took place half way into a 2000 metre rowing race, when an asthma attack suddenly hit me. I was in a boat with three other rowers and they had to carry me over the finish line,” says Simpson.

Simpson who will MC at the Respiratory Achievers’ Awards ceremony, says her one piece of advice for people who have asthma or other respiratory conditions, is to go out and achieve your goals.

“Just because you have asthma, it doesn’t have to hold you back,” says Simpson.

The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ are currently looking for Achievers’ Award nominees who go by the same mantra.

Six achievers’ award winners will be flown to Wellington all expenses paid, to be presented an award at a prestigious national award ceremony on 19 April 2018.

The Award categories are:
• Asthma 5 to 12 years old
• Asthma 13 to 18 years old
• Asthma adult
• COPD
• Other respiratory conditions (including cystic fibrosis, bronchiolitis and bronchiectasis)
All nominations will also be eligible for the Cody Forbes Award for Courage. This award is in honour of a boy from Turangi, who had cystic fibrosis and sadly passed away in May 2007 shortly after his 16thbirthday.

For more information or to download a nomination form visit asthmaandrespiratory.org.nz. Nominations close on 28 February 2018.