NARA – The Breathing Charity is the registered title for ‘The National Association for the Relief of Apnoea’. Since 1984, with financial support from the public such as yourselves, we have been able to assist many who suffer or know those who suffer from a variety of respiratory conditions.
Providing Medical equipment, advice, information and a 24hour helpline supporting all ages from tiny babies through to the elderly. Offering help through our Community Care Programme, Local Community Scheme, Palliative Care and much more.
Through our ‘Breathing Monitor Appeal’ and ‘Breathing New Life Campaign’ we provide medical equipment into the home that relieve symptoms helping the patient to breathe easier, in return enabling a ‘more normal’ lifestyle and giving them the ability to participate in everyday things such as education, sports, work and a ‘near normal’ social life, things that most of us take for granted.
Providing a piece of equipment is easy – our ‘aftercare’ which can sometimes take us from our base to anywhere in the country at a moment’s notice is another task and our most important job. Firstly, the patient and their equipment need looking after on a regular basis for them to receive the best benefit from the equipment. We also need to liaise with doctors, medical professionals and equipment representatives to make sure the equipment given is the best for the patient’s needs. This can sometimes be a very difficult task as funding for this part of our work is very limited.
Our ‘24hour helpline’ is where patients, their family or carer can receive advice, support or assistance should any problems occur. We are there to help.
Our ‘Community Care Programme’ is designed around work in local communities, targeting communication, help and support between ourselves, patients, their families, medical professionals and healthcare assistants, to be able to give the best equipment, care and advice available to the patient.
Whilst NARA assists on a national level we appreciate those of you who wish to support on a more local basis. Our ‘Local Community Scheme’ is where this can be achieved.
‘Help with Palliative Care’ – Many with terminal illness wish to spend their last moments at home with loved ones, and medical equipment is often required for this to be possible. For tiny babies to more senior members of the community this is a time to be able to have a cuddle with mum, dad, husband, wife or siblings at their last moments and this can be a great comfort for all. A time for family and friends to say goodbye.
Through the pages of this website you can not only find out – ‘who we are’, ‘what we do’ and ‘why we do it’. We also have ‘news’, ‘stories’ and ‘testimonial’ pages where you can read about a few of our achievements so far with ‘titbits’ from parents/patients we have helped and from people who have helped us. We have a ‘photo gallery’ with many of our amazing patients and again some of those who help us too. You can also find us on Ebay, Easy Fundraising, Facebook and Twitter. We now also have a new ‘Memorial’ page where families and friends can remember their loved ones with memories and photo’s if they wish.
Our ‘Funding and Fundraising ‘page. The fundamental reason we are able to continue our work is due to the financial support from the public, their donations and fund-raising. There are many ways you can help raise funds and your imagination is the only limit. A huge ‘Thank You’ to all those who have helped us make it through the years. Your kind support enables us to help those who are sick, from tiny babies, through the ages to the elderly with respiratory and/or life limiting conditions, protecting and prolonging a ‘quality of life’. Without your generosity we would not exist.
Please take a journey through the website, and let us know if we can help you or anyone you may know – struggling to breathe. If you feel there is a way you can help us, please call us to get involved.