Places Available For 2008 Asthma UK Children's Holidays

Main Category: Respiratory / Asthma
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 14 Mar 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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Asthma UK is offering children and young people with asthma an opportunity to go on a potentially life-changing adventure holiday.

For many youngsters with asthma, missing out on exercise can be a normal part of their school lives. Asthma UK's Kick Asthma holidays teach children and young people how to manage their asthma more effectively so they can exercise safely and in confidence. The activity holidays are also an opportunity to share experiences and build self-esteem, and are open to all children with asthma and those who in addition have other related conditions such as eczema and anaphylaxis are also welcome.

The residential Kick Asthma holidays are staffed by healthcare professionals and specially trained volunteers and teach children and young people how to manage their asthma more effectively so they can exercise safely and in confidence. The activity holidays are also an opportunity to share experiences and build self-esteem, and are open to all children with asthma and those who in addition have other related conditions such as eczema and anaphylaxis are also welcome.

There are six holidays happening throughout the UK and activities are split into two age ranges, 6-11 and 12-17. The children learn how to take control of their asthma through informal advice sessions run by healthcare professionals and also have fun taking part in lots of physical and social activities ranging from raft-building, archery and surfing to T-shirt designing, ten-pin bowling and treasure hunts.

They also provide a break for parents - for some parents of children with asthma, this may be the first time that they have felt confident enough to leave their child with someone else. On the holidays, children are closely supervised by specially trained volunteers and healthcare professionals, so they can participate safely in activities that they may previously have had to miss out on.

The need for these holidays was highlighted by research undertaken by Asthma UK and Blue Peter in 2005, which revealed that more than half the children surveyed did not have well-controlled asthma, a third said they did not know or were unsure what triggers their asthma and shockingly one in five were using their blue (reliever) inhaler at least nine times per week, when they shouldn't need to use it more than three times per week.

Jenny Parry, Asthma UK's Children & Young People's Development Manager, comments: 'Bullying at school and anxiety about taking part in physical exercise makes dealing with asthma much more difficult for children and their parents. It is a delight to see children leaving the holidays feeling much more confident, supported by others with the same difficulties and able to manage their asthma more effectively.'

Julie Gerritson, mother of 10-year-old Phoebe, says: 'She has become more confident and less embarrassed about her asthma. She no longer feels like 'the only one' and realises she needs to be in control of her asthma. Although we have discussed things like triggers and preventers with her, she seems to have taken more notice now it is not her parent or doctor telling her.'

Kick Asthma holidays are subsidised by Asthma UK and parents are asked to pay as much as they can afford. The price ranges from £50 to £350 depending on ability to pay. For more information, please contact Asthma UK's Supporter & Information Team on 08456 03 81 43, email holidays@asthma.org.uk or visit asthma.org.uk.

- 13 - 19 July - Merchiston Castle, Edinburgh
- 20 - 26 July - Llangrannog, Ceredigion, Wales (12 - 17 years)
- 27 July - 2 August - Regents Park Centre, Nantwich
- 3 - 8 August - Corrymeela, Ballycastle, Northern Ireland
- 10 - 16 August - Kingham Hill School, Oxfordshire
- 18 - 23 August - Ardingly College, West Sussex

Notes

1. For further information, contact the Asthma UK media office on 020 7786 4949 or at mediaoffice@asthma.org.uk.

2. For up-to-date news on asthma, information and publications, visit the Asthma UK website http://www.asthma.org.uk. 3. Asthma UK is the charity dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the 5.2 million people in the UK whose lives are affected by asthma.

4. Kickasthma.org.uk is Asthma UK's interactive website for children and young people with asthma. The site offers support and advice and includes an asthma dictionary, problem page, games and a messageboard.

5. For independent and confidential advice on asthma, call the Asthma UK Adviceline, which is staffed by asthma nurse specialists. It is open weekdays from 9am to 5pm on 08457 01 02 03. Or email an asthma nurse at http://www.asthma.org.uk/adviceline.

Asthma UK