A young life cut way to short by an asthma attack. Today with the advances in medical treatment he would have survived. His family are supporting Asthma Australia in helping to fund teacher education become asthma aware.
Nearly 60 years ago Christopher van Leeuwen has just arrived home from a day at primary school when he had an asthma attack. Back in those days there wasn't adequate treatment for asthma and sadly Christopher died aged only eight.
His lovely mother Mrs Joyce van Leeuwen, his brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews forego Christmas presents instead giving 'Chrissy' presents in the form of donations to the Christopher van Leeuwen Asthma Foundation.
Since July 2011 this fund has educated large numbers of Canberra's primary school teachers in becoming Asthma Aware.
Recent statistics from the Asthma Foundation in August 2018 are:
- Asthma affects 1 in 9 Australians and more than 400 people sadly die each year from asthma.
- Nearly 500,000 Australian children aged 0-14 have asthma.
- In the period 2015-2016 there were 39,448 asthma hospitalisations and children aged 0-14 make up more than half of these (51%).
- Asthma is one of the most common reasons that children visit Hospital Emergency Departments and is a leading cause of school absence.
If you would like to also support the great work this fund does, please get involved or call us on 02 62079 800.
Update!
This is a perfect example how linking good people with good causes can benefit a nation.
The good people in this case is the Van Leeuwen Family, headed by the lovely Joyce Van Leeuwen and the good cause is the Asthma Australia.
The fund was set up in 2011 and the Van Leeuwen family worked tirelessly to raise funds for Asthma Australia, ensuring the Canberra community were educated on the best treatment for young Asthma sufferers.
For the anniversary of what would have been Christopher Van Leeuwen's 60th birthday, the family wanted to ensure that not only did their efforts help young people in our community but the whole of Australia. Working closely with the wonderful team at Asthma Australia the "Christopher Van Leeuwen Asthma Foundation" has funded the development of an Asthma App
GreaterGood has been honoured to be part of the history of this wonderful fund and to help a family achieve such a lasting gift in honour of a lost son… Vale Christopher Van Leeuwen.
From left to right: Alexander Weaver, Caitlin Nelson, Lynne Reeder, Joyce Van Leeuwen, Therese Van Leeuwen, Tim Van Leeuwen.
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