Co Antrim volunteer wins award for inspiring contributions to lung charity in wake of father's death

An Antrim woman has been recognised with an award for her volunteer work with lung charity Asthma + Lung UK at their annual Volunteers Award ceremony.

Rebecca Boyle has been recognised for her outstanding commitment to the charity, in memory of her late father Billy who sadly died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 2018.

Speaking to Belfast Live, Rebecca recalled the importance of raising awareness for lung charities and how a lack of awareness impacted her family after her father's terminal diagnosis.

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"My dad had COPD and he passed away in 2018. I was really passionate about helping other people be more aware of lung disease. When my dad was first diagnosed we had no idea that it could kill him and we didn't know much about it at all," she said.

"I saw lots of ways that things could be improved for people with lung conditions and so that is why I went out and got in touch with the former Health Minister Robin Swann to get a lung strategy and I then came across Asthma + Lung UK where I went on their Patient Panel and spoke at Stormont on their behalf.

"Having that charity to help you with campaigning can give you a bit more credibility and help get things done."

Rebecca explained that Northern Ireland is the only place in the UK or Ireland which currently does not have a lung strategy and that she was keen to put forward a patient perspective in the development of the strategy for Northern Ireland.

"It is hard to consider the patients' position when you are coming at it from a medical standpoint," she said. "It is trying to get across what it is like to go through the system with lung disease and how it can be improved for the patient. I think it is always important for those who have experienced the disease to have a say in how policy is developed.

"There really wasn't a lot of support when my dad was diagnosed. He had been diagnosed for about ten years before he started to get bad with it and had to go into hospital. We didn't realise that once someone is in hospital with a flare-up from lung disease, 50 per cent of those will die in three and a half years.

"Unfortunately, my dad was one of those who died within that time frame. At the time, we thought it was like an asthma attack but we really didn't realise the severity of it. It was only when he became terminally ill that we realised he is dying with this."

Rebecca's father gradually deteriorated and was offered pulmonary rehabilitation, which is only offered to a small number of people in Northern Ireland but by that stage, he had deteriorated further.

"My dad wasn't able for it when it came. It is basically exercise classes for people with lung disease and my dad wasn't able, it was too late for that kind of thing. He went to his doctor once a year to be tested but there wasn't much in the way of information for families as to how the disease would evolve or things we could do to help him," she said.

"It was basically us having to google things and it was then that I found out my dad might not have long to live. We had thought it might be a few years but in fact it was months.

"The best treatment he had was when he was terminal. The district nursing team were amazing at bringing in a bed to the house and helping us care for him but unfortunately, the palliative care was the best. It shouldn't have to get to that stage where you are waiting on your loved one dying before they get good treatment."

Lucia Ciolanel, Volunteer Engagement Manager at Asthma + Lung UK said: “The Volunteer Awards at Asthma + Lung UK are a way for us to celebrate our exceptional volunteers who have demonstrated outstanding commitment and dedication in serving their communities in the past year.

"We were delighted to present Rebecca Boyle with an award for going the extra mile to improve the lives of people with lung conditions. From everyone at Asthma + Lung UK we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Rebecca for their unwavering commitment and support.”

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