A football star has backed an asthma charity as it rolls out a huge education programme across the north-east.
Greg Tansey, who resumed training with Aberdeen yesterday after a stint on loan with Ross County, scaled the heights of Scottish football despite suffering from the condition.
Yesterday, the Dons midfielder joined a celebration at the Asthma and Allergy Foundation’s home in Aberdeen when the organisation announced a funding windfall and outlined its plans for the cash.
The charity, which is the only one of its kind in Scotland, has been awarded £136,5000 from the Big Lottery Fund to visit every school in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire on an awareness drive.
Mr Tansey, who scored 21 goals for Inverness Caledonian Thistle between 2014 and 2017, told dozens of invited guests how he hoped his own success in spite of the condition would inspire others.
He said: “I benefitted massively from the inhalers and the various medication, and I want children to know they can succeed in sport even if they have asthma.
“I think young people need to know the condition is not a hindrance, you can carry on with your life as normal.”
Speaking afterwards, the footballer explained that he became acquainted with the charity after members visited Pittodrie last season.
The awareness scheme, My Breath My Life, will involve interactive workshops at schools, and information sessions aimed at families and school staff.
Workshops will focus on what asthma is and how it presents itself, common triggers and how to minimise them, asthma management and medications, and what to do in an asthma attack.
The programme follows a survey of 68 schools in the region, where every single one responded that they “needed support” to help pupils with asthma.
The charity’s health promotion manager, Dr Sorcha Hume, explained that part of the drive would be aimed at reducing any stigma surrounding the use of inhalers.
She said: “If children are getting teased for using an inhaler, they are more than likely not going to want to be seen using it, and that could be a fatal decision.”
North East MSP, Lewis Macdonald, has been a longstanding supporter of the charity and described the launch of the new scheme as a “fantastic occasion” in its history.
