The Breathing Life Awards, UK

Main Category: Cystic Fibrosis
Article Date: 05 May 2008 - 2:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

The 13th annual Breathing Life Awards will be taking place on Wednesday 28th May at Hilton Metropole and televised on Sky Real Lives (Sky channel 253) on Sunday 1st June, 9.30pm. Hosted by Carol Smillie and Dr David Bull, the glitzy awards ceremony celebrates the outstanding achievement of inspiring people that have Cystic Fibrosis (CF), the UK's most common life-threatening inherited disease.

Each award recognises the exceptional accomplishments of those with CF shown in the areas of sport, art and outstanding contribution. There are 22 amazing nominees from across the country.

Stars from the worlds of music, sport, screen and stage will be honouring these inspiring nominees that have shown great courage and determination despite battling on a daily basis with the symptoms of CF. Celebrity attendees include: Natalie Imbruglia, Gail Porter, Phil Tufnell, Ben Shephard, Amanda Lamb, Christopher Biggins, JK & Joel, Samantha Fox, Carrie and David Grant, Michelle Gayle, Du'aine Ledejo, Kate Lawler, Caroline Ferraday, Caroline Flack, Jenny Agutter, Bill Bryson, Mark Richardson and Alan Hinkes.

Categories include:

Sport Award sponsored by Profile:

Aaron Aby, 18 Wrexham, Clwyd
Robert Carr, 10 Blandford Forum, Dorset
Robbie Marshall, 15 Perth, Perthshire
Dean Walker, 11 Edinburgh

Junior Fighting Spirit Award sponsored by Next:

Fiona Taft, 14 Sandbach, Cheshire
Juliet Kernohan, 14 Carbost, Isle of Sky
Daniel Short, 14 Waterlooville, Hampshire

Artistic Award sponsored by Forest Laboratories:

Jay Smith, 17 Chesterfield, Derbyshire
Greg Beckett, 12 Dundee, Angus
Daniel Cullen, 14 Kenilworth, Warwickshire

Against the Odds Award sponsored by More:

Mark Allen, 36 Widnes, Cheshire
Linda Madden, 54 Dunstable, Bedfordshire
Victoria Tremlett, 20 Romford, Essex
Amy Holdright, 16 Leamington Spa, Warwickshire

Living Life Award sponsored by Gilead Sciences Europe Ltd:

Sophie Ward, 16 Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Richard Burbedge, 27 Reading, Berkshire
Jodi Dunmore, 21 London

Adult Fighting Spirit Award sponsored by Next:

Sophie Jebb, 20 Guildford, Surrey
Cara Doran, 29 Dumbarton, Dunbartonshire
Caroline Shorthouse, 16 Balderstone, Blackburn

Barbara Gibbon, Channel Head of Sky Real Lives, comments: "We are really excited to be working with the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and these amazing people. As a channel dedicated to telling moving, real-life stories, televising the Breathing Life Awards was an obvious fit and we can't wait to show our viewers the emotional stories of these inspirational people with CF."

Cystic Fibrosis Breathing Life Awards 2008 is an IncrediBull Ideas production for Sky Real Lives.

The award ceremony commences at 9.00pm and the press room opens at 7.30pm at the West Wing entrance of the Hilton Metropole Hotel, W2.

Notes

A celebrity photocall will take place at the Hilton Metropole, entrance at 6.00pm on 28th May, 2008. Celebrities will be available for photographs and interviews (where agreed) in the press room with award winners from 9pm.

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust is the UK's only national charity dealing with all aspects of Cystic Fibrosis (CF). It funds research to treat and cure CF and aims to ensure appropriate clinical care and support for people with Cystic Fibrosis.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the UK's most common life-threatening inherited disease. Cystic Fibrosis is caused by a single defective gene. As a result, the internal organs, especially the lungs and digestive system, become clogged with thick sticky mucus resulting in chronic infections and inflammation in the lungs and difficulty digesting food.

Each week five babies are born with Cystic Fibrosis and three young people die - 90% from lung damage. Average life expectancy is just 31, although improvements in treatments mean a baby born today is expected to live longer.

Cystic Fibrosis Trust