Join the Social Media Movement Against Respiratory Disease

#Hard2Breathe - Join the Social Media Movement Against Respiratory Disease

On 1 February, the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation will be launching an energetic social media campaign called Hard2Breathe to run throughout February. The campaign aims to increase awareness and encourage people to talk about respiratory disease such as asthma, especially amongst teenagers and children.

“Despite New Zealand having one of the highest rates of respiratory disease in the world, no one talks about it,” says Asthma and Respiratory Foundation Chief Executive John Wills. “One in six kiwis are affected costing the country roughly $5.5 billion per annum. We hope that interactive campaigns like Hard2Breathe will get people talking and seeing how common it is,” says John Wills.

Hard2Breathe will encourage people to share a short video of themselves blowing up a balloon and delivering a brief message about respiratory illness. The videos can be filmed using any filming device, including smartphones, and uploaded on the Hard2Breathe campaign site as well as on Facebook using the hashtag #hard2breathe.

Balloons have been chosen as the campaign symbol, as people with respiratory disease have restricted airways which makes a seemingly simple task like blowing up a balloon a struggle for them.

People of all ages are encouraged to be as creative as possible with their videos, following the instructions on the Hard2Breathe campaign site. There will also be giveaways for outstanding videos each week.

ENDS

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