14 July 2005
Hemel Hempstead MP, Mike Penning, is supporting the British Lung Foundation’s 20th birthday campaign by getting breathless on an exercise bike at the House of Commons during a lung heath awareness day.

The ‘Get Breathless!’ campaign encourages everyone of all ages and abilities to get breathless in aid of the British Lung Foundation, while thinking about their own lung health. The British Lung Foundation is the only UK charity working to help people with all 43 lung diseases. It provides information and support to patients and their families, funds world class medical research to find solutions to lung disease and campaigns for improved treatments and services.

Mr Penning said: “I am delighted to be ‘getting breathless’ to support the British Lung Foundation in its 20th birthday year. One person in every seven in the UK is affected by a lung disease and has to live with breathlessness all the time, it is vital that people look after their lungs and taking part in this campaign is a great way to start!”

Dame Helena Shovelton, Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation said: “We are thrilled that Mike Penning MP is taking part in the Get Breathless! campaign. The 8 million plus people in the UK living with a lung condition will know how hard it is to do day to day tasks when you are fighting for breath, by supporting our campaign Mr Penning was able to find out just what that is like.”

Photo: Mike Penning supporting the British Lung Foundation 'Get Breathless!' Campaign.