THE Daily Echo's campaign to save the Asthma and Allergy Clinic in Southampton is being backed by the family of tragic Jamie Stubbs.
Jamie died from a severe asthma attack in May, just days before his tenth birthday.
This brave youngster, who told his parents, Colin and Sharon, he wanted his organs to be donated if he died, saved the lives of four other people after his death.
Now Colin, Sharon and Jamie's 13-year-old sister Kerrie-Ann, from Studland Road in Millbrook, Southampton, are encouraging others to help save more lives by keeping the clinics open, in Jamie's memory.
Colin said it was vital for clinics to stay open.
He said: "People must understand that the research of asthma must continue so others may get the chance to live their families' lives complete.
"The case of our son, Jamie, has made such a difference in the way we treat each moment of everyday life.
"This centre must remain open to help the lives of other people being ripped apart like ours by an illness that is really not understood and taken seriously enough.
"Even now more people are discovering they've got asthma and they might have such a severe attack, like our son did, which can kill and killed our son."
As reported in the Daily Echo yesterday, the free clinics are set to close for the want of £30,000.
Up to 30 people are helped a week, and the clinics - run by the world-renowned Asthma, Allergy and Inflammation Research charity, sited at Southampton General Hospital - offer a lifeline to 28,000 asthmatics in the city.
Other people from across the country have also benefited from the asthma and allergy work.
But increasing research costs mean Aair can no longer afford to fund the facility, which operates at the Shirley NHS Walk-in Centre, West End Surgery, Romsey Hospital and Hythe Hospital four days a week.
Has your life been turned around by Chellan Eames and the Asthma and Allergy team? Are you holding any events to raise funds for Aair? Call reporter Emma Barnett on 023 8042 4505.
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