Asthma does not define the person nor limits the capacity of a person to reach its goal. Even famous and notable athlete such as Dennis Rodman, Michael Jordan and David Beckham suffered asthma before but they were able to overcome it.
Our local celebrity such as Kim Chiu, Arnel Pineda and Michael Christian Martinez suffers the same. They all have Asthma yet have accomplished so much in their respective fields.
On February 5, GSK launched the Search for Winners Against Asthma 2015. The campaign aims to choose and recognize 10 young asthmatic achievers from different walks of life.
The advocacy likewise introduces Olympic figure skater Michael Christian Martinez as the new face of the campaign. Martinez, an asthmatic, began experiencing asthmatic bronchitis when he was just two month sold.
Michael Martinez, Olympic Figure Skater and Winner Against Asthma
Video Credit to www.facebook.com/winagainstasthma
Here calls being in the hospital frequently and says the cold rink actually helped improve his health. “Year after year my health keeps improving,so my mother fully supported me to continue skating saying it’s better to spend the money on skating than in the hospital.”
The program is a nationwide search for young asthmatic achievers aged 30 years and younger who are outstanding in their respective fields despite having asthma and inspire asthma sufferers that they, too, can win against asthma.
The rationale for the target age group is driven by the fact that asthma is one of the most important chronic disease during childhood causing substantial morbidity1. Uncontrolled asthma is associated with a reduced lung function, impaired performance in physical exercise, and impaired quality of life2. More severe asthma leads to more frequent school absenteeism which may negatively affect an individual’s level of education and, possibly, choice of career2. People within this age group are in the process of developing the necessary knowledge and skills that will enable them to achieve their goals in life and asthma should not deter them from realizing their full potential.Thus it is necessary at this early stage to raise their awareness on asthma and how they can win against it.
Kim Chui graces GSK search for “Winners Against Asthma 2015” last February 5 held at the Makati Shangrila Hotel, Makati City
Last February 2014, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) launched Win Against Asthma Today — an integrated advocacy campaign aimed at increasing awareness and amplify existing efforts to spread information about asthma and how it can be managed.
The campaign also encourages patients to consult their doctors and discuss the best way to manage their asthma.
A lot of asthma patients do not realize that they are settling by accepting as normal the lifestyle restrictions resulting from uncontrolled asthma. Patients unnecessarily accept symptoms, assuming that frequent symptoms, exacerbations and lifestyle limitations are an inevitable consequence of having asthma. They may feel that although current treatments can alleviate their asthma symptoms, they just need to accept and bear that it normally happens. This is where the partnership and constant consult with their doctors become very important.
To prove that the disease should not be a deterrent from living one’s life to the fullest, real asthma patients were invited to provide testimonies of their experiences and how won against the illness. Celebrity asthmatics, Kim Chiu and Arnel Pineda became the featured ambassadors for the first wave of the campaign.
Kim Chui, Actress/Performer and Winner Against Asthma
Video Credit to www.facebook.com/winagainstasthma
Arnel Pineda, International Rock Star and Winner Against Asthma
Video Credit to www.facebook.com/winagainstasthma
As more asthma patients become aware that they can win against asthma just like Kim and Arnel, the campaign aims to strengthen its pool of ambassadors to continuously inspire more patients to take control of their asthma.
Do you know of a friend,loved one or relative who are winning against asthma as well? Do you want them recognized as winners against asthma just like Kim, Arnel and Christian?
The Search for Winners Against Asthma will run from February until May 2015 and will be touring different schools and drugstore outlets to spread the advocacy and invite more people to join the campaign.
The deadline for submission of entries is on March 31,2015. All entries will be screened during the first week of April. As we celebrate World Asthma Day on May 5,the top 20 finalists will be announced and will be immediately followed by online voting. The top 10 Winners Against Asthma will be announced and awarded by the 3rd week of May 2015.
This advocacy campaign is supported by the Philippine College of Physicians(PCP), Philippine Academy of Family Physicians (PAFP), Philippine Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (PSAAI), Huawei and Folded &Hung.
With Kim Chui during the launch of GSK “Search For Winners Against Asthma 2015“
About GSK
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For further information please visit www.gsk.com.
For further information on asthma, please consult your doctor. For more information please visit http://www.facebook.com/winagainstasthma. To view more potos of the event click www.facebook.com/rezirb.
