ASTHMA
UK'S PEAK PROJECT
The PEAK project provides residential activity holidays for children
and young people, aged six to 17, with severe to moderate asthma
and eczema.
A volunteer who works with
the PEAK project told On Your Behalf:
The aim of these holidays
is to help improve the children’s confidence and knowledge
of their condition and help them learn to manage their conditions
much better.
It also provides a break for
parents knowing their child is being looked after by a team of volunteer
doctors and nurses and other people responsibly trained to look
after their child’s welfare whilst providing them with a fun-filled
holiday.
Last year PEAK did not fill
all its 200 places available on these holidays UK-wide. Last year
was the first ever PEAK holiday held in Northern Ireland.
The reason for the lack of
applications is because very few people know about PEAK and the
benefits the holidays can bring, which is why PEAK needs your help.
There are 1.4 million children
with asthma in the United Kingdom who could benefit from a holiday,
if they only knew about them.
I am sure there are lots of
people living in Northern Ireland who have children who would greatly
benefit from these holidays. PEAK is running five holidays in 2004
catering for two different age ranges at each holiday (6-12 and
13-17 year olds ).
Merchiston Castle – Edinburgh
18-24 July
Prestfelde School – Shrewsbury 1-7 August
Trent College – Nottingham 15-21 August
Ballycastle – Northern Ireland 14-19 August
Taunton School – Taunton 22-28 August
The price of the holidays is
dependent on the family’s ability to pay. On the easy-to-complete
application form, parents are asked to nominate how much they feel
they can afford for their child's holiday with the National Asthma
Campaign subsidising the difference.
If you know of any children
who would benefit from a holiday please contact Gilli at 028
90972633 or Patrick Ladbury on 0207 704 5892
or email pladbury@asthma.org.uk for an application form or to speak
to a health professional who has seen the benefits of the holidays
for their patients.
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