A SWINDON campaign group working to provide essential medical breathing equipment has been awarded £1,000 by a housing firm.

Asthma Relief, based in The Shaftesbury Centre, was given the cash by Persimmon Homes which is helping hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, medical centres and hospices with equipment such as nebulisers.

Charity’s founder David Penman said: “Many years ago I was busy running my own engineering company when I suffered a massive heart attack.

“I was admitted to hospital for surgery and was told that I should stop working. During my time in the hospital, I noticed that there was a shortage of nebulising machines on the ward.

“The patients suffering from breathing difficulties were sharing one machine. Nebulisers are expensive and there was obviously a shortage.

“Years earlier I witnessed my older brother struggling to breathe and eventually lose his life at the age of 28 following an asthma attack. This had a profound effect on me and it was then that I set up the Charity Asthma Relief from my hospital bed.”

The charity helps hospices, hospitals and medical centres around Wiltshire.

For information, or to apply for funding, visit www.persimmonhomes.com/charity.

Pauline Fletcher, the sales and marketing director for Persimmon Homes Wessex, said: “David Penman has done amazing work from difficult circumstances and has gone on to help so many people.

“We are proud to support Asthma Relief’s cause and hope our donation can help their ever growing contribution to the people of Wiltshire.”