This Easter Sunday, Roger Williams, Lib Dem MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, will be supporting people with lung disease by abseiling down a 130 foot rock for the British Lung Foundation Wales.
The event marks the eighth annual ‘Breathe Easy’ abseil, and the fourth time that Roger has taken on the challenge in his efforts to support people with breathing problems in Wales.
In this time the abseil has raised around £36,000 for the British Lung Foundation Wales and is organised by Margaret and Doug Barnard, who are members of Breathe Easy Neath Valley – one of the support groups run by the British Lung Foundation for people with lung conditions in Wales.
Money raised by the group has been used to buy equipment to help local lung patients and other medial equipments. Money also goes to support the work of the BLF and helps to fund medical research into lung disease and various support groups where people can call for advice and speak to expert nurses.
Roger’s determination to help people with lung disease extends to his work at Westminster too. He has recently been appointed as Vice-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Respiratory Health and his commitment to improving the health of children’s lungs helped secure a ‘YES’ vote to ban smoking in cars carrying children.
Roger Williams MP said:
“I am delighted to be abseiling for a fourth time and raise some much needed funds for the British Lung Foundation Wales.
1 in 5 people in Wales have some form of diagnosed condition and I believe the British Lung Foundation Wales do a fantastic job, raising awareness of lung disease and helping those who have yet to be diagnosed.
Representing many ‘coal communities’, I have experience of the devastating diseases that former miners suffer from. That is just one reason that I support this event.
The British Lung Foundation Helpline has the highest proportion of callers from Wales than anywhere else in the UK and I am pleased that all money raised will go to support the brilliant work that the foundation does.”
Chris Mulholland, Head of the British Lung Foundation Wales, said:
“I’d like to say a huge thank you to Roger for his continued support of Breathe Easy and the BLF, and indeed for people with lung disease across Wales. His enthusiasm for the cause and his generosity helps us to support people with lung disease, and facilitate research into medical advancements that could help discover future treatments and cures.”
For people with lung disease, or carers, the BLF’s Helpline 03000 030 555, is open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, and offers offer confidential support and advice of living with, and managing a lung condition. People can also visit www.blf.org.uk for more information on how the BLF can help.
You can support Roger and the BLF by donating at: http://www.justgiving.com/RogerWilliamsMP
The abseil is supported free of charge by Dulais Valley Independent Ambulance Service and local outdoor activity experts ‘Call of the Wild’.
