ORGANISERS of a swimming club for asthma sufferers are celebrating a National Lottery grant.

The Blackburn area SPLASH Club - Swimming Programmes to Let Asthmatics Swim to Health - has been awarded £2,679 for swimming lessons.

The group, connected to Blackburn Area Asthma Support Group, will hold two 30-minute swim sessions each Thursday in Darwen Leisure Centre and will train three assistant swim teachers to help.

Club chairman Ann Wainwright said: "The grant will enable us to offer subsidised swimming lesson to asthmatics and their families.

"Unlike normal swimming lessons, they will be trained by people who have experience of asthma either themselves or within the family, so they understand and know how to deal with an attack.

"Swimming is proven to be great for asthmatics because the air in the pool is warm and moist and so doesn't irritate airways."

The lessons at Darwen Leisure Centre, Green Street, begin on Thursday, September 16, between 7pm and 7.30pm and 7.30pm and 8pm and cost £2 per child and £2.50 for adults.

The club also runs a session for asthmatics who can already swim between 6.30pm and 7.30pm every Tuesday at Bank Hey Pool in Heys Lane, Blackburn, at a cost of 50p and an annual membership of £2.

The group would also like to hear from anyone who can spare an hour each week to help out.

Anyone wishing to book lessons or help out can contact coach Jayne Hodkinson on 01254 610513 or secretary Arthur Eddleston on 01254 726191.

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