I AM sure readers will be shocked to hear that as many as one in seven children and one in 25 adults in the UK have asthma, and that this figure has doubled since the 1970s.

That is why, as a person with asthma, I am supporting this year's National Asthma Campaign Midsummer Stroll from June 14 to 20.

I'm asking everyone to put on their walking shoes, either on their own or as part of a group, to raise funds for asthma research.

Walking is a fun and healthy way to get from A to B and what's more, anyone can do it! You don't even need to organise a special walk or Midsummer Stroll. Simply change your routine for the week. Walk instead of using your normal mode of transport and get family, friends and colleagues to sponsor you.

Walking is easy to build into our lives and this year's National Asthma Campaign Midsummer Stroll gives us the chance not only to get fitter but also to help fund research into the causes of treatments of asthma.

Join me, put your working shoes on, and make a very real difference to the lives of people with asthma.

You can contact Julia Sturdy, Regional Fundraising Officer for the North West, on 01484 688 153 for details of walks in your local area or how to organise a walk.

ROSEMARY CONLEY.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.