A charity has received a funding boost of more than £136,000 to help ease the suffering of children with asthma across the north-east.
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation, which is based at Dyce and is the only organisation of its kind in Scotland, secured the windfall from the Big Lottery Fund.
Chief executive Martina Chukwuma-Ezike said she was “very excited” about rolling out the project – which she believes will make a huge difference to the lives of hundreds of children.
She said: “We will be running different workshops and activities for young people, where they will learn about what asthma is and what types of inhaler to use.
“We have found out that some children are taking the wrong type of inhaler to school, which won’t help them as much.
“The best way to handle asthma is 50% medication and 50% education, when a child knows about their condition they are better equipped to manage it.”
The £136,560 donation will be spread out across three years, and Mrs Chukwuma-Ezike aims to tour schools in Peterhead, Stonehaven and Alford, among others.
She added: “We want our children to live healthy and active lives, which aren’t compromised by their condition.”
Asthma affects more than 35,000 people in the NHS Grampian area.
North East MSP Lewis Macdonald opened the charity’s base last year, and last night hailed the group for its “excellent work”.
He added: “It is great news that children and young people across the area will now benefit from their expertise.”
