“I was really struggling with my asthma, I had not been told how to take my inhaler, couldn’t sleep at night, work or coach my team," Paul explains.
"After visiting an Aberdeen based charity 'the Asthma and Allergy Foundation' and talking about my symptoms, learning about my triggers, and how to use my inhalers correctly. Now I can manage my Asthma, symptoms well controlled, I don’t miss out on any Football or fitness sessions. I feel I am in a lot better place and because of this my confidence has grown as you can see picture after Sunday’s great result of my team winning the junior cup.”
No one really tell you how asthma can squeeze every breath out of your lungs, nor the impact on your day-to-day life. For Paul who was diagnosed of adult-onset asthma, this all came as a complete shock. Paul went from being an active and healthy football coach to having to struggle to do the everyday things he once enjoyed, including his passion for coaching his team.
“It breaks my heart to see how worrying the young lads feel when they see me struggling to catch my breath during coaching, and not being able to sleep well at night, exercise and do the little things that shouldn’t cost me so much effort meant something was terribly wrong. My quality of life was hugely impacted by asthma, a condition that no one talks about, yet it devastates lives on a daily basis.
“All these changed when I met AAF Ambassador Colin Black who introduced me to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation, and I attended an asthma workshop. Learning about my asthma triggers, how to take my inhalers correctly and the practical advice was transformational.
"My asthma is now well controlled, and you can see a photo of us winning the U14 Juvenile Cup, a very tough match that Sunday.
"The work that is being done by the team at the Asthma and Allergy Foundation is life changing. I am making a direct appeal to every person reading this to make a kind donation to this local Aberdeen charity, so they can be there for families battling poorly controlled asthma this Christmas."
When you help someone with asthma breathe, you help them live.
Give the gift of breath this Christmas!
Donate today at https://www.justgiving.com/asthma-allergyfoundation
To find out more about their lifesaving work visit www.asthmaandallergy.org.uk
The AAF team can be contacted on 01224 973 001 or info@asthmaandallergy.org.uk