Youth Forum members

Being involved with Asthma UK gives me the chance to meet up with my friends at forum meetings and at Kick Asthma holidays. I have also helped to produce a book called ‘Zack has asthma’ and have been on Blue Peter twice.

I play football, basketball, rugby and cross-country team where I represent my school.

Asthma may stop you at times, but it shouldn't stop you doing the things you want to, even if you have to rest for a while in between events.

I have been a member of the Youth Forum since it started.

I have a rare type of asthma because I am allergic to all asthma medication so when I have an asthma attack I have to go into hospital to be treated with adrenaline but this slows by heart down so my next attack could be my last. But I do not let this get in my way as this year I went to South Wales with the scouts for a week camping and went on my eighth Kick Asthma holiday.

Being part of the Youth Forum has opened many doors for me and has given me different experiences with life.

It was hard to comprehend at first that I had asthma since I had always been a sporty girl, but then I just got into the habit of taking my inhaler before exercising and playing sport and then I was in control of my asthma.

As part of my role of Youth Ambassador for Asthma UK I have been to the House of Commons, met several MPs and tried to educate them about living with asthma.

Despite my asthma, I'm very sporty, and have been scuba diving, skiing and did cross country running for about 4 years, I've even been abseiling, and jumped off a very large tower in New Zealand. I don't let my asthma stop me! 

I keep my asthma under control by taking my medicines regularly and avoiding triggers such as tree pollen and mould.

I have been on Kick Asthma holidays for the last three years and really enjoyed them.  My hobbies are playing cricket, reading books and cooking things. I have a sister who also has asthma and an allergy to milk so I enjoy cooking milk-free food for her.

I hope helping out with the Youth Forum will help me for the future and further my knowledge. I go to school in Glasgow and I hope to study Musical Theatre at university. Suffering from asthma is not a scruple in my plans, I am a world champion bagpiper and classically trained Grade 8 pianist.

I want to help create general awareness of the fatal danger that asthma causes.

I would like to try to help raise awareness of young people with asthma, especially in schools. Sometimes schools do not understand how to manage young people with asthma, by raising awareness about asthma I hope this can improve.

I have had asthma since I was about three years old, and it has become more severe as I have got older and I have frequent hospital admissions, but I try not to let asthma stop me doing things I enjoy.
 

Although my asthma makes me ill, and makes me cough a lot, I try not to let it affect my life. Especially as I love to play sports (swimming, hockey and rounders are my favourites).

But I have missed out on going out with my friends, playing sports and quite often, when I am ill, I miss out on a lot of sleep as I cough all night long. I swim 3 times a week and it has definitely improved my asthma, and helps me with my other sports.

I have been a member of the Youth Forum since its inception.

My asthma is very severe, so it has been a large influence on my life with hospital admissions and asthma attacks,

The Youth Forum has provided me with many opportunities such as speaking at World Asthma Day  2008 and talking on the radio, I think it’s really important that young people’s opinions are heard and that Asthma UK really values them.

I have spoken at a variety of events speaking at places such as Bradford, Birmingham and attending an event at the House of Parliament for the Youth Forum.

I hope to be a paediatric nurse in the not too distant future. After being rather well experienced at being a patient, I am looking forward to being on the other side!

I joined the Youth Forum after attending the ‘Listen Up’ competition.

I have had asthma since I was born, it gets hard but I have learnt to get used to it.

Up until last year I did rowing through my school, but I had to give this up due to my asthma, so I now play badminton and do water sports.

I joined the Youth Forum last year because it’s a great opportunity to meet new people, share experiences and raise awareness about asthma.

Although my asthma is very difficult to control I still manage to go out with friends and enjoy normal University life at Cardiff University where I am studying sociology and education.

I have suffered from asthma since I was young but as I progressed through primary school it gradually got worse. I like to play rugby and water polo but I have had to stop rugby due to my asthma, hopefully I will be able to play again soon!

I joined the Youth Forum because I want to raise awareness of asthma and improve the way young sufferers are treated by health professionals, teachers and the general public.

I hope to go on to study medicine. In my free time I enjoy volunteering with disabled children, coaching rugby and guiding.

I have suffered from asthma since I was five years old. I go to air cadets and enjoy lots of activities such as flying, rock climbing and skiing. When I leave school I want to study film directing and production.