Amanda Bell

Remembering Archie, Supporting Asthma + Lung UK

My family recently lost Archie, who was a wonderful Husband, Step Dad, Grandad and all round legend, to a lung condition. Archie was a larger than life, loud, proud Scotsman who lived life to the full despite suffering with chronic asthma from childhood and COPD in later years. From playing football, to having a spell as a professional golfer, and later working as a full-time joiner (and part-time wind-up merchant!), he never let his conditions stop him.

When he was told last year that his COPD was no longer treatable, instead of wallowing, he took himself off on one last solo jaunt along the coast from Whitley Bay to North Shields, stopping at as many pubs as he could along the way, chatting to everyone and making new friends (as I said... a Scotsman through and through! 😂).

In his last week, although he was in hospital and knew time was short, he faced it with incredible bravery. He filled those days with love and laughter right until the end, keeping us all entertained with his stories and outrageous sense of humour for as long as he possibly could.

Asthma and Lung UK was a charity that meant a great deal to Archie. Their work provides vital support, advice and research for people living with lung conditions and their families, and instead of flowers at his funeral, he asked for donations to be made in support of their work.

To honour both his memory and his final wishes, my family and I will be walking six miles along the same coastal route Archie took on his last solo adventure on the 1st of August, although we'll probably be making a few less pub stops along the way!

If you'd like to support us and help raise money for this brilliant charity, we'd be incredibly grateful. Every donation, no matter how big or small, will make a difference. Thank you so much for your kindness and support ❤️

Every minute, someone in the UK is diagnosed with a lung condition. Every pound I raise takes us closer to a world where everyone breathes clean air with healthy lungs.

Just £24 could support a researcher at the start of their career to carry out an hour of lung health research to ensure we attract and keep the best scientific minds to focus on lung disease.

Any donations you can give are hugely appreciated - thank you for supporting me and everyone out there living with a lung condition.