Asthma awareness is the focus of the Community Asthma Walk at UNC Charlotte May 21.

Walk for asthma with the Mecklenburg County Asthma Coalition.

On May 21 (registration opens at 8 a.m.; the walk starts at 9 a.m.) the coalition is hosting the inaugural Community Asthma Walk at UNC Charlotte’s Hauser Alumni Pavilion.

“May is Asthma Awareness Month,” Coalition board member Melissa Calvert said. “The purpose of the walk is to celebrate Asthma Awareness Month and raise awareness, care, and support for those affected by asthma in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community.”  

After losing her daughter Alexandrya McCallum to asthma in 2005, Calvert wrote “Takes My Breath Away,” a book designed to help those coping with asthma and the toll it can take.  

“My personal experiences with asthma have led to me being an advocate to raise asthma awareness,” Calvert conveyed. “All four of my children were diagnosed with asthma.  My oldest and youngest children had very severe cases.  My oldest daughter, Alexandrya, died from an asthma attack January 30, 2005 at the age of 7. Her death, of course, had a great impact on my life.  It motivated me to help in the fight against asthma.  I do not want any parent to experience the pain I went through and still go through. In my efforts to raise asthma awareness, I share my story with others.  I have done this by speaking to different community groups.”

In addition to not having a cure, asthma’s greatest impact is in the African-American community.

“Asthma is a condition that affects millions of Americans,” Calvert said. “It is one of America's most costly diseases. However, it can be controlled with proper treatment. Asthma is more common in children than adults. African-Americans are more likely to die from asthma than other races.”   

While the disease’s effect differs with each case, it does not have to limit an individual’s lifestyle.

“Some patients need to take controller medicines on a daily basis,” Calvert said. “These medicines help to prevent an asthma attack.  Should an attack occur anyway, rescue medication is taken to control the attack and bring the patient back to ‘normal.’ Knowing a patient's triggers (things that cause an attack – dust, mites, fresh cut grass, colds, etc.) and creating and following an individualized asthma action plan help a patient to maintain control over asthma. Though a person may have asthma he or she can still live a full, adventurous life.”

For more information, go to: http://health.uncc.edu/events/2016-mecklenburg-county-asthma-coalition-community-asthma-walk or www.meckasthmacoalition.com

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