'If we can help just one person then it's worth it'
THE chairman of lung disease charity Lungevity is looking to increase awareness of its services and outreach, as it celebrates its 15th birthday.
Phil Gallienne’s spoke following the news earlier this year that lung cancer is now the leading cause of cancer deaths in the Bailiwick.
It is also estimated that between 450 and 500 islanders with lung conditions are currently being supported by respiratory nursing staff.
‘Nurses are seeing more people now than ever before. I think a big reason for that is people are now more aware of the symptoms of lung disease, so get themselves checked,’ Mr Gallienne said.
He emphasised that people could develop lung conditions even if they had never smoked, with some of the warning signs including a cough that would not go away, and shortness of breath during normal activity.
‘My wife has bronchiectasis [enlargement of the lungs’ airways] and has never been a smoker. It was her condition that prompted us to join the charity in 2013.
‘There are about 40 different types of lung disease and they affect people of all ages, conditions like asthma can affect young people.’
The charity holds meetings at Les Bourgs Hospice on the last Friday of every month between 10.30am and 12.30pm, which Mr Gallienne said were usually small, quiet gatherings.
‘Once people have been to see a respiratory nurse they are made aware of us via our leaflets, and are free to come along to our meetings to talk about anything really, any worries they might have or something completely unrelated to their condition.
‘Sometimes one of the nurses attends, or a representative from [physiotherapy provider] the Guernsey Therapy Group will be there.’
Over the course of the last year, the charity has been the recipient of several large donations, with many of these coming from events it has held. These have included a scavenger hunt at Saumarez Park in March, which raised £500, and a quiz with more than 100 people at St Martin’s Community Centre in October – the fifth such event of its type – with more than £10,000 raised over the last five years.
Both events are set to return this year.
‘The donations often go towards buying equipment for people. Last year, for example, we funded the £300 purchase of a four-wheeled walker for a patient with lung disease, as well as contributing £350 towards white goods for a patient with lung cancer,’ Mr Gallienne said.
‘We also buy things like oxygen cylinders and tubes.’
In terms of other plans for this year, the charity will be one of the beneficiaries of this year’s Saffery Rotary Walk, while it will have a stall at the Association of Guernsey Charities Fete at Government House in the summer.
Mr Gallienne also said he had written to a number of charitable trusts in the last few weeks regarding potential donations.
‘It’s all about awareness really, we see more people at our meetings and events than before, so it’s just a push to make us more visible as we celebrate our 15th birthday.
‘If we can help just one person through coming to one of our meetings or by encouraging them to get checked out, then it will be worth it.’
