NAC CARES Virtual Challenge - Week 2
The NAC CARES Team are seventeen days into their virtual Lands End To John O'Groats (LEJOG) challenge, and this last week has seen them cover a further 65.86 miles (106.1km). This means the team have covered a total of 227.29 miles (365.80km), equating to 1/5 of the total distance.
This week's miles were dedicated to aspergillosis patient Ian Stratton, an avid runner with Brackla Harriers who recently passed away.
This week's collective effort has again been achieved with team walks, trail, road and treadmill running, and more long hours on static bikes. This week's virtual landmark was the stunning Durdle Door, a natural limestone arch on the Jurassic Coast near Lulworth in Dorset, England.
The virtual challenge, which the team began on World Aspergillosis Day 2023 (February 1st), covers the length of the UK and will see the team run, cycle and walk a total of 1,084 miles (1,743km).
The goal is to complete the distance in 100 days and to raise just £1 for every km travelled.
If you would like to read more about the Fungal Infection Trust (FIT), which the team are fundraising for, and donate, then follow the link https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/LEJOG-for-Aspergillosis
NAC CARES Virtual Challenge - Week 1
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It has been ten days since the NAC CARES Team embarked on their virtual Lands End To John O'Groats (LEJOG) challenge. The virtual challenge, which the team began on World Aspergillosis Day 2023 (February 1st), covers the length of the UK and will see the team run, cycle and walk a total of 1,084 miles (1,743km).
The goal is to complete the distance in 100 days and to raise just £1 for every km travelled.
The first ten days have already seen the team cover 14% of the distance; that is 161.4 miles (259.70km), and they are ahead of schedule by a whopping 68.48 miles (110.2km)! The collective effort has been achieved with walks, running, and long hours on static bikes and treadmills. Check out some of the areas we have passed below, and let us know if you live nearby!
The team will be dedicating the next week of miles and km to aspergillosis patient Ian Stratton, an avid runner with Brackla Harriers who recently passed away.
If you would like to read more about the Fungal Infection Trust (FIT) which the team are fundraising for, and donate, then follow the link https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/LEJOG-for-Aspergillosis
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NAC CARES team charity run for the Fungal Infection Trust
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The Fungal Infection Trust (FIT) provides vital support for the work of the CARES team, without which it would be much more difficult to maintain their unique work.
This year, starting on World Aspergillosis Day 2023 (1st Feb) the CARES team is paying back some of that support to FIT.
The Team (Graham/Lauren/Chris/Beth and Seren) have taken on the challenge of getting from one end of the UK to the other with only the power of our legs in 98 days. There are five in the team: two runners, a cyclist and two walkers. We would all normally cover a few km a day so together we think we can cover the 18km A DAY needed to complete this challenge without too many blisters!
With your help we would like to raise £1 a km for the whole journey, so when we are passing your part of the UK (virtually, as we can't get 98 days off work!) please donate.
Keep an eye out for updates on our blog.
Thank You and wish us well!
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src="https://aspergillosis.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/donate-with-justgiving-1-uai-516x103-1-300x60-1.webp" _builder_version="4.19.4" _module_preset="default" theme_builder_area="post_content" title_text="donate-with-justgiving-1-uai-516x103-1-300x60" hover_enabled="0" sticky_enabled="0" align="center" custom_margin="||28px|||" url="https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/LEJOG-for-Aspergillosis" url_new_window="on"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
Fungal Infection Trust
[et_pb_section fb_built="1" admin_label="section" _builder_version="4.16" global_colors_info="{}" theme_builder_area="post_content" custom_padding="8px||8px||true|false"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" _builder_version="4.16" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" global_colors_info="{}" theme_builder_area="post_content"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.16" custom_padding="|||" global_colors_info="{}" custom_padding__hover="|||" theme_builder_area="post_content"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" _builder_version="4.16" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" global_colors_info="{}" theme_builder_area="post_content"]The Fungal Infection Trust (FIT) has supported the National Aspergillosis Centre for decades, enabling many of our patient support websites and support groups to run smoothly.
If you receive support from the National Aspergillosis Centre and its resources please help FIT support us by donating.
FIT is a small UK charity run by volunteers that minimise costs so that over 95% of all donations go into its support of people who have aspergillosis.
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Singing for lung health
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Want to try therapeutic singing?
You may be lucky and find a lung health group locally, however, you don't have to leave your home to benefit (sessions are run on Zoom), AND you don't have to be a patient either as the groups are also open to carers.
The Asthma & Lung Health charity has published a page giving some useful information on how you can find a singing group in your area.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
NAC Physio Mairead runs the Manchester Marathon for the Fungal Infection Trust
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World Sepsis Day 2021
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What is Sepsis?
Our immune system usually works to fight any bacteria, viruses, or fungi, to prevent infection. If an infection does occur, our immune system tries to fight it, sometimes with the help of medication such as antibiotics.
Sepsis (sometimes called septicaemia or blood poisoning) is a life-threatening reaction to an infection. It happens when our immune systems overreact to infection, and it causes damage to the body's tissues and organs.
Sepsis Facts
- 1 in 5 deaths globally is associated with sepsis
- It is a medical emergency
- Between 47 and 50 million people a year are affected globally
- It does not discriminate, while some people are at higher risk, anybody can get it
- It is the most preventable cause of death worldwide
Sepsis Symptoms
These symptoms might indicate sepsis
- Slurred speech or confusion
- Extreme shivering or muscle pain/fever
- Passing no urine all-day
- Severe breathlessness
- Mottled or discoloured skin
- You feel so unwell, you think you might die
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National Aspergillosis Centre (NAC) Patient & Carer Support meeting: July 2021
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[et_pb_column type="4_4"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text"]Our support meetings are informal and designed to provide participants to chat, to ask questions and to listen to some expert opinions on a variety of subjects related to aspergillosis in some way - you can often ask questions too. No-one need go away without their questions having an answer from the NAC team.
This month we had a talk from University of Manchester & Manchester Fungal Infection group (MFIG) researcher Jorge Amich Elias on his research into new ways to treat aspergillosis - this one even has a medication ready to go!
We also had an informative talk on the important subject of Power of Attorney from NAC team member Lauren Amphlett.
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National Aspergillosis Centre (NAC) Patient & Carer Support meeting: June 2021
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Our support meetings are informal and designed to provide participants to chat, to ask questions and to listen to some expert opinions on a variety of subjects related to aspergillosis in some way - you can often ask questions too. No one need go away without their questions having an answer from the NAC team.
This month we had a talk from National Aspergillosis Centre Team's Graham Atherton with an update on the COVID pandemic and its implications for aspergillosis patients in the UK, Beth Bradshaw of NAC talks about lung function tests and Chris Harris gives us our weekly exercises for 10 mins.
View full Video here
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How to manage breathlessness
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Recording from 15 April 2021, when our specialist physiotherapist Phil Langridge gave a talk to our aspergillosis patient and carers support group on breathlessness.
-----Contents of video----
- 00:00 Intro
- 01:05 Meaning of breathlessness
- 03:19 When to seek help (Safety net)
- 04:09 Causes of breahlessness
- 06:53 Things that can be done to help with breathlessness
- 17:19 Techniques to help with breathlessness - Mechanics
- 21:44 Techniques to help with breathlessness - Positions for recovery
- 24:09 Techniques to help with breathlessness - Timing
- 29:27 Techniques to help with breathlessness - Worry
- 32:09 Techniques to help with breathlessness - Other
- 41:04 Take home points
- 43:16 Q&A
You can read more about managing breathlessness here.
The British Lung Foundation has a wealth of information on breathlessness here. [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]