The 'Lungs are for Life' campaign, which culminates during Breathe Easy week (10-17 June 2006), is raising awareness of the importance of good lung health for everyone, whilst highlighting that lung disease affects people of all ages.
Lung disease affects more than eight million people in the UK at a cost to the NHS of £2,576 million per year. Respiratory conditions are the most commonly reported long-term illnesses in children. In England, around one in seven boys and one in eight girls aged 2-15 reports a long-term respiratory condition.
Giving his lungs a workout on an exercise bike at the House of Commons, Mr Dunne said: "I am delighted to be supporting the British Lung Foundation's 'Lungs are for Life' campaign. I have been surprised by the number of constituents whose children suffer from asthma. Many people don't realise that lung disease often starts in childhood and can continue into later life. It is really important to look after your lungs and the Breathe Easy Week campaign will help highlight that."
Dame Helena Shovelton, Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation said: "I was pleased to meet Philip Dunne MP who has a genuine interest in lung disease and I am delighted he is supporting our campaign. One person in seven in the UK is affected by lung disease - from tiny babies to older adults - and many are severely disabled by their condition. We hope that Mr Dunne will be able to take the message back to his constituents and encourage them all to remember that their lungs are for life."
Anyone who wants more information about the British Lung Foundation or about lung health should visit www.lunguk.org or call the BLF Helpline on 08458 50 20 20. The manager responsible for Shropshire is Daphne Barton, who can be contacted on 0151 224 7778 or on daphne.barton@blf-uk.org.
