We recently lost my Dad, David John de Warrenne to an awful disease called Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and pneumonia.  

Dad was such a lovely and truly wonderful man loved by so many. I couldn't have asked for a better father. He was also an extremely talented musician, winning top competitions throughout his life and dazzling many with his "spine tingling" performances. He studied with the famous Julius Katchen, the famous concert pianist in his Paris apartment overlooking the Eiffel Tower. Dad, and his fellow pupil and dear friend of over 50 years Anthony Green, at 19 years old were the first white people to perform in Bermuda, casting aside the racial segregation of the times, something they were both very proud of.  

Following this, Dad worked hard all his life, teaching at Trinity School in Croydon for 40years, arranging, accompanying and writing music for Trinity Boys Choir and the much coveted "DW" choir, the public face of Trinity Boys Choir.

Not only this, but along the way he helped his students and family, not just musically but with everyday obstacles life threw at them. Especially me as his son, I always confided in him whenever I needed to and always depended on him.

Dad always approached life in a positive way and never let his illness affect him. Unfortunately Dad was diagnosed with IPF not long after his retirement which restricted his ability to carry out every day tasks. After many years teaching it's so sad that he never got a fair crack at retirement.

Idiopathic means "no reason for", pulmonary; "lung" and fibrosis "scarring" and thus has no explanation for it's occurrence. But upon diagnosis it's life changing with extremely devastating statistics. Thus research and testing needs to be continued and advanced and hence why the family and I have chosen "Breathing Matters" as the charity of choice to raise money in Dad's name. 

Breathing Matters is part of UCLH Charity (Reg No 229771). It has been set up to raise awareness and to work with patients to help find a cure for Interstitial Lung Diseases such as Pulmonary Fibrosis and other Respiratory Infections such as Bronchiectasis and Pneumonia.

The aim of Breathing Matters is to support the Centre for Respiratory Research at UCL Respiratory in their committment to find better ways to diagnose and treat respiratory diseases.

Currently under-funded in the UK and we aim to raise awareness of these little known diseases.

UCL Respiratory is one of the world’s leading research centres for respiratory diseases. The centre promotes and conducts medical research into the prevention, treatment and cure of respiratory diseases.