Shrewsbury Breathing Club - helping more people with breathing issues
14th May 2012
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The Shrewsbury and District Breathing Club provides an invaluable lifeline to people with chronic lung problems and helps to improve their quality of life.

The club, which has been running since 1991, offers social support, education and companionship to people with chronic disabling respiratory disease and their carers.

There are around 100 members and as well as regular meetings and outings, the club offers holidays in a caravan adapted for people with a disability, at Clarach Bay near Aberystwyth.

There is always a doctor and nurse on these outings. Dr Bob Wilson, a Consultant Chest Physician from the Respiratory Resource Centre at The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, attends all the meetings.

Equipment such as medication, wheelchairs, oxygen is also provided to enable members to attend meetings, with most of the meetings and holidays being subsidised.

 Dr Wilson said: “The Club was founded to help people with chronic lung disease to improve their quality of life, to reduce isolation, improve social contacts, make friends and find support. We help anyone with chronic chest problems such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD,m Chronic Asthma, Fibrotic Lung disease as well as their carers, relatives and partners.

“We are also hoping to raise awareness of these illnesses and the club works closely with the Respiratory Resource Centre to this end.

“Feedback suggests we are helping members gain more confidence, more independence and more ability to manage and deal with their disease. Our volunteers include ex-nurses, Red Cross trained members and those who have worked or lived with sufferers of chronic disabling respiratory diseases and want to give something back.

“Donations are always welcome, we feel we can’t deny access to the club to any appropriate people and so spend a lot of time fundraising in order to help as many people as we can.”

 If you would like to help, or donate whatever you can to this worthy local charity, please call Dr Wilson 01743 251564 for more information.

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Catherine B

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I am a PR and copywriting specialist and handle much of this work for the bestof Shrewsbury. I am passionate about living and working in Shrewsbury promoting the people, businesses and services which operate...

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