About Breath of Life
Breath of Life is a registered charity which helps people in North Staffordshire who have breathing problems or lung disease.
Since 1997 we have funded research and provided equipment and facilities to help in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients in hospital, in clinics and at home, where statutory funding was not available.
North Staffordshire has amongst the highest rates of lung disease in the UK. Even though the area no longer relies on the traditional mining and manufacturing industries that may have contributed to lung disease in the past, the incidence of respiratory disease is still rising.
We help people with all lung diseases: asthma, lung cancer, COPD (the umbrella term for conditions such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema), Cystic Fibrosis, TB, Sleep Apnoea and many other less common respiratory conditions.
Read about our current and past campaigns here
Research
Breath of Life funds research into the causes, prevention, diagnosis, cures and treatments of respiratory diseases. We also provide equipment for use in research and by patients, whether in hospitals, clinics, GP's surgeries or at home. We help people to take care of their lungs by giving advice and encouraging smoking cessation.
Our support for asthma patients has included part-funding the local arm of a piece of international research which pinpointed one of the genes that causes asthma. More recently we have supplied one of the first of a new generation of machines to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire to improve diagnosis and treatment of asthma in the area.
Children and young adults
We help children with lung disease and are currently raising funds so that youngsters with Cystic Fibrosis can have a more comfortable and homely stay in hospital when they have to remain in isolation for some time. We have also provided funding so that babies and children can have the breathing monitors and equipment that they need to safeguard them at home.
Equipment donations
Patients have benefited from a number of pieces of equipment we have provided to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire to help patients who have respiratory conditions. We have also produced a series of information leaflets for patients with COPD and lung cancer.
Respiratory equipment does not always cost a huge amount of money and some of the equipment that makes a big difference can cost as little as £250.
We need your help
We are reliant on the generosity of local people, groups and businesses and the hard work of our volunteers to raise the funds we need. We aim to keep our overheads to a minimum and we employ just one part time administrator so that most of the money we raise goes directly to the projects we fund. On this site you can find many ways of helping us, from making a donation to helping with our fundraising. Please also use the "Contact us" page to tell us what you think is needed in this area to make life better for people with lung disease or call us on 01782 577124