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Our first AAIR Ambassadors
AAIR is pleased to introduce our first four official ambassadors of the charity. Joan Whitcher, Brea Whitlock, Mary Foss and Nigel Foss are all strong supporters of the charity, promoting and representing AAIR within the community as well as regularly raising vital funds. Fundraising director Caroline Pope said: “We are extremely grateful for the on-going contribution of our ambassadors and are delighted to recognise their loyal support.”
TESTIMONIALS |
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Lawrie McMenemy
AAIR Patron
Captain of 2005 Question of Sport Team
"This was a very entertaining and intimate evening, which was a bit different to the usual charity events and very good fun. Everyone involved put in a tremendous amount of hard work and I am delighted to have been a part of the evening. Put me down for next year." |
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Camilla Dallerup
"To most people everyday breathing is just not a problem. When I had asthma as a child it was a real hindrance and I remember how awful it felt not to be able to catch my breath. It is very difficult to describe the feeling of panic, no one can understand how frightening it is to have an asthma attack and be unable to breath for those moments.
Even though I haven’t had an asthma attack since I was a child I still carry around an inhaler. As someone who dances at a high level I’m so glad I don’t suffer from asthma any more but I do understand what it is like for asthma suffers and am delighted to be able to support
AAIR. " |
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James
Martin
"I think we are all aware that asthma and allergies are becoming more and more common place and how important it to find better treatments and cures for these conditions. Hosting the 2006 AAIR Festival of Dance was a lot of fun but it was especially rewarding to be able to help a local charity and one which benefits such a great cause. I am pleased to offer my support to AAIR and its research team at The University of Southampton School of Medicine." |
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Bruce Forsythe
"I am more than delighted to offer my support to AAIR to help raise awareness and was astonished to read that almost half of all British children now suffer from asthma and allergic diseases. It is therefore vital that even more research is carried out into the causes, as well as finding preventative care to help the many millions of sufferers in the UK."
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Dee Caffari MBE
"As a former PE teacher, I am well aware of the impact that asthma and allergies have on sufferers and how restrictive this can be when the conditions take hold. The research that AAIR carries out means that new treatments and preventative measures can be discovered to bring a better quality of life to people affected by these diseases."
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Photograph by Mark Lloyd |
World Record Breaking Sailor Brian Thompson
"I am very honoured to be an AAIR patron and look forward to being able to get more involved."
Congratulations to Brian and Dee Caffari on taking 8th place in the gruelling Transat Jacques Vabre race to Costa Rica. You can read about their success here and more on Brian's decision to become an AAIR Patron here! |
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James and Ola Jordan
"A dear friend of ours suffered with asthma as a child. Initially doctors were baffled with the breathing difficulties he was suffering, which led to many hospital visits. He was finally diagnosed with asthma and started to use medication to control his symptoms. Although the symptoms subsided as he entered his teenage years our friend often comments on the anxiety asthma caused himself and also his parents. It was a worrying time for everyone, especially as breathing is something we all take for granted." |
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Andrew
Pate
Andrew Pate, presenter with ITV Meridian, said:
"AAIR does such a brilliant and vital job. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law are both asthmatics, so I have seen just how difficult and upsetting the condition can be. But having spoken to the AAIR team I now realise how serious the condition can be, and how important it is to find new treatments and eventually a cure. I have great respect for the people who help make AAIR the success it is, and with their dedication I am sure new breakthroughs in this field will happen." |
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John Byrnes
Strictly Come Dancing professional John Byrnes said: "I am delighted to support the charity AAIR. Asthma & allergies are so widespread that most of us know of someone who is affected by them. The charity does a great job funding research to help provide relief to these people." |
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Former England cricketer and AAIR supporter Gladstone Small
“As an ex sportsman who was fortunate enough to be able to play the sport I loved I know how important good health is. I am happy to do anything I can to help AAIR and those people who are not so fortunate to enjoy good health. I wish AAIR all the very best.” |
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John Clayton,
The Coast Radio presenter,
performed the Argentine Tango at AAIR's Festival of
Dance after just 12 hours of tuition.
"My first involvement with the charity was for the Festival of Dance 2007, held at the Point -
Eastleigh. It was a fantastic experience, not least of all getting to learn how to do the Argentine Tango, in less than 12 hours! My dancing partner, coach and charity director, Caroline was fist class. She was patient and an absolute joy to work with!
I look forward to helping to support a great charity and continue to achieve and assist with the groundbreaking work that needs to be met to help make a positive difference to many
people..."
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Richard Williams
Ocean FM Breakfast Presenter
2006 Festival of Dance Sponsor
"That was the most nervous I have ever been. I was petrified but it was fantastic. Learning to dance is something I have always wanted to do and it was even more exciting than I thought it would be. It's the most fun I've had since I discovered girls. Everything feels a bit flat now. We’ve worked towards this for seven weeks, I won’t know what to do with my spare time now it’s over."
Katie Hazel
Ocean FM’s Breakfast Show
2006 Festival of Dance Sponsors
"Being involved with the AAIR event was a pleasure, the Ocean FM breakfast team had a fantastic experience from the early stages of planning to actually taking part in the event - lets do it again sometime! " |
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Councillor
Peter Wall
Former Eastleigh Mayor Cllr. Peter Wall, who nominated AAIR for his 2006/7 Mayoral appeal, said: "AAIR has been a pleasure to work with, we would like to pass on our thanks for their
enthusiasm and support." |
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Roger Brooke
Roger Brooke, a leading businessman and former diplomat, said: "I was inspired to donate to this cause when I became aware of the growing menace of asthma and allergic diseases.
As The University of Southampton's School of Medicine and the Southampton General Hospital are among Hampshire's greatest assets and Professor Stephen Holgate and Professor Donna Davies are both world class researchers, I thought this is a fantastic cause for me to support.
I keep in touch with Stephen and Donna and know they and their team are making fantastic progress, but of course they need more money to ensure they continue to find new treatments and, hopefully, one day a cure for asthma and allergies." |
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Des Day
A & A Business Supplies
2006 Children’s Writing Competition Sponsor
"I had the great privilege to sponsor the ‘Children’s Writing Competition’ for
AAIR, where we donated writing and art materials of all sorts to the winners and runners-up of various age categories. I was overwhelmed to see such brave children who had been inflicted with various degrees of allergies and asthma. Not ever suffering from these myself it had been difficult to really understand what anguish they go through until I read their competition entries, which were fantastic. I guess most of us take our good health for granted.
AAIR is doing a sterling job and I was pleased to meet the dedicated team behind the scenes whose quest it is to help alleviate these ailments. Well done!!" |
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Mark Barrett
Uppa Class Properties
2005 Question of Sport sponsor
"Having attended many charity fund raisers over the last few years, The Question Of Sport evening was a breath of fresh air!
The evening was expertly put together, the guests were well looked after and the menu choice was a winner. The celebrities were amusing and on occasion quite knowledgeable.
It was a nice surprise to see so much exposure in the local press following the event. Uppa Class was proud to be main sponsor." |
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Malcolm Le Bas
"I was delighted to be involved in AAIR from its earliest days when I helped set it up. My main reason for involvement was the worldwide reputation of Professor Stephen Holgate and his team, which, if anything, is now even more enhanced. The ground breaking work that they are doing must be supported in every way possible as it is making a real difference to many, many people." |
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Eleanor Dodd
The White Star Gastro Pub Oxford Street, Southampton.
"The White Star Tavern is delighted to support a local charity. We understand further research into the very many different causes & conditions associated with Asthma is vital & we appreciate all the fantastic work AAIR is undertaking in an effort to help people who are affected.
We found AAIR to be extremely professional & were especially pleased to see our fundraising efforts were given optimum coverage in their newsletter & on the website. We will definitely be supporting AAIR again at our annual Beaujolais Networking Lunch." |
