Founded in 1997, Asthma Relief began with one man’s determination to turn personal loss into lasting impact. We chatted with Patricia Davis, who has worked for the charity for 19 years.
For people living with respiratory conditions, access to the right equipment can be life-changing. Yet for many patients – and even healthcare teams – that access isn’t always guaranteed. That’s where Asthma Relief, supported by trusted partners like PARI, is making a tangible difference. We chatted with Patricia Davis, who has worked for the charity for 19 years.
Founded in 1997, Asthma Relief began with one man’s determination to turn personal loss into lasting impact. The charity’s late founder Dave Penman, a retired engineer, set up the charity in memory of his brother, who died from an asthma attack at just 28 years old.
“Dave wanted to help others with asthma lead a normal life,” explains Patricia. “During a hospital stay of his own, he saw nurses running between patients with nebulisers because there simply weren’t enough,” Patricia says. “Even then, he could see the pressure the system was under.” From his hospital bed, Dave began fundraising to purchase nebuliser compressors – and Asthma Relief was born.
What began as a small effort has grown into a national charity supporting respiratory care across the UK. “When I first joined, we were donating around 100 nebulisers a year,” Patricia recalls. “Now, we’re up to nearly 1,500 annually.”
Asthma Relief purchases equipment directly – primarily nebulisers and accessories – and donates them to NHS services. “We don’t provide money – we provide the equipment,” Patricia explains. “That way, we know exactly where the funding is going.”
A key part of this approach is working with reliable, high-quality equipment providers. “We’ve been using PARI nebulisers since around 2020,” she says. “We're happy with the PARI BOY Classics that we buy. They have a long warranty on them and are reliable machines for both hospital and community use.”
Although rooted in asthma, the charity now supports a wide range of conditions. “We're called Asthma Relief because the charity was set up in memory of Dave's brother who suffered with Asthma, but we support people with a wide range of respiratory conditions, including COPD and cystic fibrosis” Patricia says. “Anyone who needs a nebuliser – we’re here to help.”
For a charity operating at scale with a small team, dependable suppliers are essential. “We’re happy with the customer service team at PARI – they’re very, very efficient” Patricia says. “We get quick turnaround on orders, and the customer support team is very good.” That responsiveness directly impacts patient care. “We aim to provide a fast and efficient service, and the customer service team at PARI helps us provide that,” she adds.
Despite its national reach, Asthma Relief remains a small organisation, run by a dedicated team and supported by experienced trustees. “We see the impact of our work every day,” Patricia says. “It’s not just about the equipment - it’s about improving quality of life.”
That mission continues to reflect the values of its founder. “Dave was incredibly kind and positive,” she recalls. “He just wanted to help people live normal lives.” Nearly 30 years on, that legacy is still going strong – with the support of partners like PARI helping to extend its reach even further.
Donations of any size help the charity purchase life-changing equipment for patients and healthcare teams across the UK. Whether through fundraising, corporate partnerships, or personal contributions, every effort directly supports those living with respiratory conditions.
As Patricia puts it: “We couldn’t do what we do without the support we receive – and ultimately, it’s the patients who benefit from that.”
To support the work that Asthma Relief do, visit their JustGiving page.
The statements made in the report are the individual views of the person reporting. They do not necessarily reflect the PARI view or the general state of science.