A Hammersmith resident has been honoured during Volunteers Week by lung health charity Asthma + Lung UK, in recognition of her dedicated volunteering supporting local people living with lung conditions.
Linda Makins received the Asthma + Lung UK Spirit of Courage Award at the charity’s annual volunteer conference [on 4th June] for her outstanding work in her community. Linda’s volunteer work includes seven years leading the Hammersmith & Fulham Breathe Easy group, which offers vital emotional and practical support for people living with lung conditions, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Linda joined the group after she was diagnosed with COPD in 2017, looking for support and a way to connect with others living with similar conditions. She soon took over running the group, organising monthly meetings and guest speakers. Linda’s commitment has meant she built strong relationships with the local community and with healthcare professionals at Charing Cross hospital, where the group met. She even kept the group going online when the pandemic hit in 2020 and they could no longer meet in person.
Lucia Ciolanel, Volunteer Engagement Manager at Asthma + Lung UK said: “Linda is a wonderful person and a dedicated volunteer; her support for people with lung conditions over many years has been invaluable. From assisting with Asthma + Lung UK’s online support groups to running our Hammersmith & Fulham Breathe Easy group, Linda has given so much time and energy to help others, despite the difficulties of living with a chronic lung condition herself. Linda is the very essence of a role model volunteer. Linda has had to step away this year from most volunteer duties, but she has shown tremendous courage, commitment and loyalty during her years volunteering for us. Our support groups could not happen without the dedication of people like Linda – her award is incredibly well-deserved.”
Linda said: “I am so grateful for this award and would like to offer my thanks to Asthma + Lung UK for all the great work they do. Working with the Breathe Easy Group was itself a reward for me, since meeting the incredible range of guest speakers from the relevant medical professions, including those dealing with the psychological issues that can affect us when living with breathlessness, and also those providing community services such as Open Age, broadened my own knowledge and provided me with options for enriching my own life. It was also a delight to meet all my friends in the group, sharing our experiences and offering each other advice and support. While I am a little sad to have to step down from running the Breathe Easy Group now, I remain a passionate advocate for Asthma + Lung UK and I would love to continue supporting the organisation’s activities, through expressing my own experiences, particular with that magical therapy Singing for Breathing in which I participate at both Charing Cross and Royal Brompton.”
The Hammersmith Breathe Easy group is now part of a London-wide group, meeting online via Zoom on the third Wednesday of every month from 1pm to 2pm.
Asthma + Lung UK support groups help people with lung condition to improve their ability to handle breathlessness and are a way to connect with a supportive community of people. Explore our diverse range of online, in-person and singing groups to find the one that best suits your preferences and needs. Groups + support | Asthma + Lung UK
The Volunteer Awards at Asthma + Lung are a way to recognise the contributions of the exceptional volunteers who have demonstrated outstanding commitment, dedication and creativity, in serving and engaging their communities in the past year. It’s an opportunity to celebrate their remarkable achievements and express gratitude for their selfless efforts in improving the lives of people living with lung conditions across the UK.
Volunteers are a vital to the work Asthma + Lung UK does to support the millions of people in the UK living with lung disease. To find out more about the ways you could get involved and join the fight for lung health, visit: Volunteer with us | Asthma + Lung UK.
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