The AAIR Charity

THANK YOU

	Donation From New Forest Golf Club New Forest Golf Club has raised a whopping Ł2,200 for AAIR thanks to 2007 club captain Paul Tatler... (more)
	Our Story Ray Williams, 62, from Hampshire, has taken part in 4 asthma trials. He donated the fee from his last trial to AAIR... (more)
	Sticky Fundraiser Residents at Cedars Nursing Home are staging regular fund-raising events after choosing AAIR as its charity for 2008... (more)
	Four cyclists from Dorest Rough Riders Four cyclists from Dorset Rough Riders have raised Ł810 for AAIR after cycling 540 miles through France... (more)
	‘Bowled’ Over Atherley Bowling Club closed their indoor season with a sociable charity game which raised Ł200 for AAIR... (more)
	The Grizzly Run - it’s as tough as it sounds! Local asthma sufferer Antony Pink has completed one of the toughest running challenges in Europe to raise money for AAIR... (more)
	What We're Doing With Your Money 2007 was a great year for AAIR, with some extremely successful events and some very kind and generous donations... (more)
	My Story Namrata, Manoj and Aarti Panchmatia lost Anuj, their precious son and brother, to asthma three years ago. This is their story... (more)
	In the ‘swing’ of fundraising for AAIR Golf days and raffles have so far raised a tremendous Ł2,000 thanks to members of Paulton’s Golf centre who have nominated AAIR as their charity of the year... (more)
	Sponsored Walk Loyal AAIR supporter Mike Panchmatia recruited his good friend Hitesh Master to join him on an epic sponsored-walk to raise money for AAIR... (more)
	Thank You's
	Bill & Brea It seems rarely a newsletter goes by without a thank you appearing for our dedicated supporters Bill & Brea Whitlock... (more)
	School Fundraisers Following a hectic year of fundraising activities 225 pupils at Priestlands Secondary School in Lymington have kindly presented AAIR with a cheque for Ł550... (more)
	Daily Echo's Clive Downton takes on darts professionals for AAIR Congratulations to Clive Downton, from the Daily Echo Sports Desk, for keeping a steady hand when he took on top professional darts player Peter ‘One Dart’ Manley... (more)
	The Mela Festival Thank you to loyal supporters Mike and Namrata Panchmatia who took part in one of the city's biggest summer events The Mela Festival to help raise money for AAIR... (more)

Donation from New Forest Golf Club
New Forest Golf Club has raised a whopping Ł2,200 for AAIR thanks to 2007 club captain Paul Tatler.
Paul nominated AAIR to benefit through the traditions of the Club by 'friendly' fines at the end of Sunday morning competitions, individuals donating sweeps from club matches and collections from away fixture pots plus other miscellaneous contributions.

Paul said: "I chose AAIR because I suffer from asthma, my two sons have suffered from asthma at points in their life, my eldest requiring three hospital admissions as a baby and also sadly, my father died from an asthma attack at 63 years of age. As I am sure you can understand, asthma has affected my life in a big way and it also affects a large amount of the population, it was therefore an honour to hand over the cheque to Caroline Pope and I would like to extend my thanks to all of those who have contributed."
Paul and AAIR would like to thank all of the members of the New Forest Golf Club for their kindness and generosity in making their contributions. www.newforestgolfclub.co.uk

OUR STORY
Ray Williams, 62, from Hampshire, has taken part in 4 asthma trials. He donated the fee from his last trial to AAIR.
“I am classed as a chronic asthma sufferer because I’ve had the condition all my life. When you live with asthma you don’t always realise how much deterioration has taken place until you have specific tests. I’d put my tiredness and shortage of breath down to old age. I was quite surprised when I had my health check for the trial and my reading showed a 46% lung function, which means my ability to take in oxygen was only half what it should have been.

The trial I took part in lasted one month. I haven’t been told if I received the placebo treatment or the trial drug but I do know that while I was taking part in the trial I felt as if I’d been given a new lease of life. Before then, just getting out of bed in the morning was an effort, but afterwards I felt like a spring chicken. I now have bags of energy.
From my point of view taking part in these trials is beneficial regardless of whether I receive the placebo or real trial drug because I get a health MOT and receive very good care. The nurses are a really friendly bunch they put people at ease straight away. By the end of the trial I left feeling they were my friends.”

Paul Barnes, 46, from Hampshire, has been involved in more asthma and allergy trials over the past 20 years than he can remember.
“I have no idea how many trials I have taken part in - too many to remember. I started 20 years ago when I saw an advert in my local newspaper. After the first one I was committed and am now an old hand at it.
My daughter, my niece, nephew and sister all have asthma or allergies. Knowing I might be helping to produce a drug which can help them and improve their quality of life is a real driving force for me.
Each trial is different. The last one I took part in was quite a big allergy study aimed at testing a drug to reduce the symptoms of hay fever. I think it started around this time last year in time for the 2006 hay fever season and was supposed to be aiming to treating hay fever for five years.
I haven’t been told if I had the real drug or placebo but I think it was the drug because something certainly worked very well. I do a lot of outdoor sport and can end up having quite bad attacks of hay fever during the summer. But last summer I think I have had just one. I know last year wasn’t a very good summer but I usually get upwards of a dozen hay fever attacks.
If you feel able to take part then I would say to definitely consider it. It does involve giving up your time but the crew are very good at fitting in with your other commitments as best they can. They are a very friendly bunch, very helpful and there is a benefit of being able to help other people."

VOLUNTEER FACT FILE
New volunteer details are kept on a database until a suitable study is announced. Volunteers then receive details of the study and, if interested, are asked to attend a screening visit and health check which can take approximately 2 hours.

Some trials take place over several centres so results may not be known for up to nine months.

All trials are ‘blind’ hence no-one including the trial nurses know which volunteers are receiving the trial drug or placebo until after the results are announced.

Drugs being trialed can take several forms including injections, inhalers and tablets.

Volunteers can be aged anywhere between 18 – 85

It may be possible to continue receiving the drug after the trial if it has been successful and goes on to be produced commercially.

Many trials are for drugs which are adaptations of drugs already being prescribed.

Volunteers receive out of pocket expenses during trials to cover items such as travelling expenses and parking.

For more information contact Sarah Firths or Di Edwards on 023 80 794343.

Sticky Fundraiser
Residents at Cedars Nursing Home are staging regular fund-raising events after choosing AAIR as its charity for 2008.
So far the residents have enjoyed a coffee morning and chocolate fountain day. The next event is a coffee morning on Friday 25 April 10.30am – 12pm. All welcome.
Cedars Nursing Home, Northlands, Landford. SO5 2EJ.

Four cyclists from Dorest Rough Riders
Four cyclists from Dorset Rough Riders have raised Ł810 for AAIR after cycling 540 miles through France.
Martin Zepler, Kim Hills, Martin Marinovic and Andy Web took part in the 3 day road ride from Caen to Beaune in aid of Wessex Heartbeat and AAIR.
Martin Zepler, who has asthma, said: “We took turns to cycle for an hour while the others either drove, navigated or rested. It was quite tough but there was some beautiful scenery and great camaraderie.”

‘Bowled’ Over
Atherley Bowling Club closed their indoor season with a sociable charity game which raised Ł200 for AAIR.

Around 50 members took part, dressed head to toe in red and white to mark St George’s Day. Mal North of the asthma and allergy research unit said: “A great afternoon of bowls was had by all. Marion Collins organized the event in aid of AAIR as she has supported our research over the years by helping us with our clinical trials. This year Marion underwent her 6th bronchoscopy for research, six being the maximum number anyone person can undertake for research.”
This event also marked the end of Marion's year as president of Atherley Bowling Club, the first female to hold the post in the club’s history. Many thanks from AAIR to all who took part.

The Grizzly Run – not for the faint-hearted!
Local asthma sufferer Antony Pink has completed one of the toughest running challenges in Europe to raise money for AAIR.
Antony, 32, from Southampton has raised more than Ł600 in sponsorship after running ‘The Grizzly’ - a gruelling 20 mile race across some of the toughest terrains in Devon. The route goes through two bogs, four beach runs and steep hills: including a 100-yard near-vertical hill that most runners could only conquer with the help of a rope.
Anthony, a fire prevention engineer and part-time a personal trainer at Totton College Leisure Centre, said he decided to take on the truly energy-sapping course to prove that asthma need not stop him from enjoying sport: “As an asthma sufferer I know how hard it can be to exercise. I wanted to prove that, with the right training and planning, asthma need not stop people from enjoying practically any sport they enjoy.”
Antony did incredibly well completing the course in 4 hours and 1 minute, particularly as the cold, wet and muddy conditions made for a very slippery course. Fortunately the only problem Antony encountered was when he woke up the next day. He said: “My chest was fine but my muscles were incredibly stiff, in fact I could hardly move.”
AAIR’s fund raising director Caroline Pope said: “I know Antony suffered from food poisoning just days before the race so this was a particularly incredible achievement. Hopefully it will inspire other asthma suffers to enjoy sport and excise - with the right advice of course.”

Antony and The AAIR Charity would like to thank all those people at David Lloyds Southampton, Totton Health and Leisure and Antony’s friends and family for their sponsorship.

What We're Doing With Your Money...
2007 was a great year for AAIR, with some extremely successful events and some very kind and generous donations. Our wonderful new microscope was just one of the vital pieces of equipment which you helped purchase:

Ł20k contribution (total Ł70k) to a state of the art time lapse electronic microscope. This amazing piece of equipment allows live cells to be viewed as they react and change over periods; minutes, hours and days.
Ł9k matching funds to purchase a Flexercell Tension Plus System to enable examination of structural airway well changes.
Ł4k as matching funds to purchase a high speed centrifuge rotor.
Ł3k to purchase a new refrigerated micro centrifuge and liquid nitrogen hammer to aid our genetics of asthma research programme.
Ł2.9k as matching funds to purchase a Cryostorage Liquid Nitrogen Dewar for storing lung biopsy samples.
Ł1.4k temperature regulated water bath for asthma gene amplification and detection.
Ł2k for an ultrasonic nebuliser to administer nebulised medication to patients with asthma.
Ł5.5k for an upright -80 degree freezer for storage of biopsy samples.

MY STORY
Namrata, Manoj and Aarti Panchmatia lost Anuj, their precious son and brother, to asthma three years ago. This is their story.
“Losing a child is the most devastating thing that can happen to anyone, and you can never get ‘over’ the grief. You learn to live with it, as it recedes into the distance and then washes over you like a fierce wave, never at set intervals. The need to make sense of events is consuming but answers are not to be found. Perhaps it is better to commemorate your child’s life by doing something constructive that doesn’t lead to personal or material gain.

We lost our 9 year old son, Anuj, on September 15th 2004, after a sudden and severe asthma attack. He died on a school playing field under a glorious cloudless sky. Our sunny, active, sport-mad child was diagnosed as a mild asthmatic and we felt that his condition was well controlled with his inhalers. Never did we consider that a relatively healthy person could die from asthma. Our perception was that these deaths occurred in severe asthmatics that were regularly hospitalised. We realised that there needed to be greater awareness of asthma, as well as the need for continued research into the condition to protect the future generations.
We discovered Asthma UK’s trek along the Great Wall of China by accident. There was an article in a magazine about a fund-raising parent who had also lost a child to asthma, and beside it the trek was outlined. It was to start on September 24th 2005, a year to the day of Anuj’s funeral.
Manoj saw it as a sign to motivate him into action, and with only four months to prepare, plunged himself into a fitness regime for the trek. Thanks to the generosity of friends and family deeply affected by our loss, the total raised was Ł20,000.
We then discovered AAIR, situated in Southampton General Hospital, and the great advances made by the research team. When Manoj decided to take part in the trek along the Ghurkha Valley in the Himalayas, we decided that the fund would be split between AAIR and Asthma UK. The date of departure was September 15th 2007 (another sign!), and the Ł16,000 was raised by staging various events through the year.
Through the loss of Anuj we will always raise funds to contribute to research to eradicate asthma as a life-threatening condition. For Manoj the physical challenges have been a tribute to our son, as well as satisfying and enjoyable experiences.
Anuj tackled each task (be it maths or learning to ski in one afternoon!) with enthusiasm and determination, and always with satisfaction with his lot in life.

SPONSORED WALK
Loyal AAIR supporter Mike Panchmatia recruited his good friend Hitesh Master to join him on an epic sponsored-walk to raise money for AAIR.

Both men took part in an 8-day gruelling trek across 106 km of some of India’s most difficult terrain. The challenge rounded off a huge fundraising effort which included staging a series of events from car boot sales to a Karaoke evening.

Mike and Hitesh raised around Ł16,000 in total, including Ł1,950 sponsorship from Chandlers Ford estate agents Sparks Ellinson. Thank you to all those who supported Mike and Hitesh.

PAULTONS GOLF CENTRE TO SUPPORT AAIR

Golf days and raffles have so far raised a tremendous Ł2,000 thanks to members of Paulton’s Golf centre who have nominated AAIR as their charity of the year.
The golf centre, situated near Romsey, is hoping to raise around Ł4,000 to purchase a computerised spirometer system which enables us to accurately measure lung function in any patients with asthma before and after treatment. This equipment is particularly good for children as it is much less stressful than traditional methods and they can watch the screen while performing lung function tests during treatment so they get a visual display of their lung capacity and can understand their condition better.
Thank you to everyone at Paulton’s Golf Centre for their support.

Vera Edwards Ł20.00
Mrs B Hunt Ł25.00
Joan Whitcher Ł176.60
James & Sharon Mayo Ł500.00
Mike Panchmatia (India Trek) Ł8000

Cedars Nursing Home Ł63.05
Paultons Ł425.00
Mr H Leadbetter Ł25.00
Fair Oak Lodge Ł150.00
M R Jones Ł25.00

Spinathon
Thanks to Toastie from Uppa Class for nominating AAIR as the charity to benefit from this year's 24 hour Spinathon on Friday, 7th December in Northam.

Bill & Brea

It seems rarely a newsletter goes by without a thank you appearing for our dedicated supporters Bill & Brea Whitlock for another kind donation. The Autumn newsletter is no exception.

These good friends of AAIR have given another Ł260.20, saved entirely from collecting change left over from shopping and money saved in lieu of buying a daily newspaper. Thank you both once more for your kind generosity.

School Fundraisers

Following a hectic year of fundraising activities 225 pupils at Priestlands Secondary School in Lymington have kindly presented AAIR with a cheque for Ł550.
The Year 8 pupils nominated AAIR as their charity to support in 2006/7 and then staged various in-school events to raise as much money as possible. During the year some of the pupils also came to our state-of-the-art laboratories while one of our top scientists Dr Hans Michael Haitchi visited the school to give an insight into how we are fighting asthma and allergies.
Photograph (l to r) Tracy Nicoll (AAIR), Josh Stephenson, Tom Britz, Amy Stoneham, Emily Cooper, Jane Magner (head of year 8 )

Daily Echo's Clive Downton takes on darts professionals for AAIR

Photograph: Daily Echo

Congratulations to Clive Downton, from the Daily Echo Sports Desk, for keeping a steady hand when he took on top professional darts player Peter ‘One Dart’ Manley, to raise Ł150 for AAIR.
The PDC World ranked number five player was visiting Southampton’s BetFred shops during the week and the bookmakers challenged Clive to take-on the darts giant - offering to match in pounds sterling the sum of Clive's nine darts.
Clive said: "Maybe I should stick to writing about darts – rather than trying to take on one of the biggest names on the professional oche. As soon as Manley uttered the words ‘game on’ nerves kicked in and the trebles deserted me. But at least my attempt to tame Manley did have some benefit for local charity as but AAIR were still Ł150 to the good."

Well we think Ł150 is a great achievement (although we know Clive would have preferred to use his practice round when he scored Ł200) and we are thrilled. Thanks to Peter Manley, BetFred (Swaythling), The Daily Echo and, of course to Clive.

The Mela Festival

Thank you to loyal supporters Mike and Namrata Panchmatia who took part in one of the city's biggest summer events The Mela Festival to help raise money for AAIR
The Mela, which means "festival" in a variety of South Asian languages, is put together by Southampton’s Art Asia and aims to offer people the chance to enjoy the exotic mix of South Asian music, art and dance.
The couple are donating the proceeds from their food stall to AAIR.


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