Did you know that even if you have asthma you can play sports? Did you know that lots professional and Olympic athletes have asthma and have reached the height of success? Dara Torres, a 12 time Olympic medalist and champion swimmer, Haile Gebresalassie, a multi-medal Olympic champion and one of the greatest distance runners in history, and Dan Giradi, a great defensive player for the New York Rangers are just a few of the amazing athletes that have not let asthma hold them back.
As a pediatric pulmonologist (breathing or lung specialist), I have been working with young athletes with asthma for the past 20 years. A little over a year ago, I founded the non-profit foundation Breathe Easy Play Hard (BEPH) and its associated website (www.breatheeasyplayhard.com) to teach youth with asthma (and their support teams: parents, coaches, gym teachers, friends, etc.) what it takes to win with asthma – in sports and in life.
The Breathe Easy Play Hard website offers easy to navigate and understand information ranging from the basics of asthma to sportsspecific insider tips to help young athletes with asthma achieve their goals and be at the top of their games. There are inspirational stories and videos from professional and Olympic athletes with asthma who have won championships and Olympic medals. There are even inspirational stories and videos from young people like yourself – and, you too can tell your story to us!
Since its inception a little over a year ago, the BEPH Foundation has run several asthma awareness events and produced public service announcements (in association with professional sports teams and athletes with asthma including the N.Y.
Red Bulls (soccer), N.Y. Rangers (ice hockey), N.Y. Knicks and Liberty (basketball). You may have seen our commercials on some of the sports networks on television.Over the next year, the Breath Easy Play Hard Foundation intends to develop customized educational programs for athletic coaches, sports camps, gym teachers and schools throughout the New York area. We also hope to bring a pilot outreach initiative to areas in the Bronx (where the incidence of asthma is extremely high) through an interactive, computerized school –based educational and coordinated after school athletic programs.
--
Pediatric pulmonologist Dr. Janis I. Schaeffer specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and management of young people (birth through the age of 21) with a variety of breathing and lung diseases. For more than two decades, Dr. Schaeffer has focused on the effects of asthma on young athletes in particular, and on the overall importance of exercise for youngsters maintaining an active, healthy lifestyle. Dr. Schaeffer is considered a national expert and has made numerous national television and radio appearances. For individualized advice, some great tips, and, to make a donation to the Breathe Easy Play Hard Foundation visit www.breatheeasyplayhard.com or call us at 516-355-BEPH.
nike22
