Manx asthma charity Breathe Easy has celebrated its fifth anniversary with a coffee and cake afternoon at Union Mills Methodist Chapel.

The charity is a support group of the British Lung Foundation (BLF) and offers emotional support and advice for those with all types of breathing problems.

The group is made up of people with breathing problems, their relatives, friends and carers.

Members attend monthly meetings, on the third Thursday of every month, held at St John Ambulance headquarters in Douglas.

It also holds regular Tai Chi sessions, a beneficial form of exercise for people with breathing problems, as well as various other social activities.

Since the launch of the charity in 2012 , the charity has donated over £4,700 to the British Lung Foundation for research and over £6,800 for local patient equipment at Noble’s Hospital.

A further donation of £1,500 was made to the British Lung Foundation at the anniversary celebrations.

Dr Penny Woods, chief executive officer of the BLF, gave a talk at the coffee and cake afternoon on the working taking place within the organisation and the progress being made within all areas of research with respect to those with respiratory conditions.

Dr Woods congratulated and thanked Breathe Easy for the work they do supporting people affected by lung diseases in the island.

Other guests at the event included GPs, the respiratory team at Noble’s Hospital, and MHKs Ann Corlett and Claire Bettison, who were representing the Department of Health and Social Care.

The British Lung Foundation has over 230 Breathe Easy support groups throughout the UK. It has been researching lung conditions for 30 years and aims to improve care, and to prevent, treat and cure lung diseases.

Campaigns by the Foundation have helped to change laws on smoking in cars with children, and introduce plain packs for cigarettes.

For more information on Breathe Easy Isle of Man contact Viv Osland on 855008 or visit their Facebook page.