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Fundraiser of the month, March 2006
Out of breath but full of courage
Five years ago Lynn Ashton was sitting down with friends and family
for a Christmas meal when a candle caught fire on a plastic tablecloth.
Lynn grabbed the cloth and threw it out the door, but breathed in fumes
from the plastic as she did so. After months of breathing problems Lynn
was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) which
has left her dependent on a portable oxygen supply.
Despite having not been able to breathe on her own for five years, Lynn
will take part in one of sport's toughest challenges when she competes
in the Flora London Marathon on April 23rd.
"I have done a few sponsored walks locally but decided that I wanted
to not only raise more money, but also raise the profile of lung disease.
So I have decided to do the London Marathon," Lynn says on her fundraising
page at www.justgiving.com/lynnashton.
"I will be walking it in 5 days with a nurse to accompany me, and a small
trolley to carry my oxygen in."
For Lynn the Marathon will be a huge personal achievement as well as
an opportunity to raise money for a disease that desperately needs more
research.
"When I first got put on oxygen I thought my life was over, not
being able to breathe is the most terrifying experience anyone should
have to go through. It affects any age, from a small baby to a grown
adult... I joined a support group of which I am now Chairperson,
that gave me the confidence to fight my disease, and made me realise
that I am one of the lucky ones. This is why I have decided to help
people who are not as lucky as me!
Lung disease is one of the biggest killers in the UK, there are
43 different lung diseases, and money is desperately needed for research!
So I would be so grateful if you would sponsor me."
You can support Lynn's amazing fundraising effort by sponsoring her here: www.justgiving.com/lynnashton.
If you feel
inspired by Lynn, you can set up your own fundraising page to raise
money with any sort of challenge you choose, for over 1,000 charities
featured on Justgiving. Just click here.
Writing a personal message and using a good photo — or several — helps
encourage friends and colleagues to get into the spirit and donate generously
too.
Previous fundraisers of the month:
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