NOTTINGHAM, England (Dec. 14, 2007)—Members and supporters of British Lung Foundation (BLF) Breathe Easy groups recently held a fundraising event in Nottingham’s Broadmarsh Centre in support of the 6th annual World COPD Day.

Luxfer Gas Cylinders, a long-time BLF supporter, assisted with the highly successful event. which was also supported by specialist respiratory nurses who carried out spirometry lung function testing on Nottingham residents to help identify people who may already have COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) but not realise it.

“COPD is the UK’s fifth biggest killer, claiming around 30,000 lives a year, yet nine out of ten people in the UK have never heard of it,” said Vicky Butler, Luxfer’s medical marketing manager. “World COPD Day is the ideal opportunity for Luxfer to help the British Lung Foundation find the ‘missing millions’ affected by the disease, especially since Nottingham has been identified as one the country’s hotspots for people most at risk of being hospitalised with COPD.”

More than three million people in the UK are thought to have COPD, yet more than two thirds are undiagnosed. The British Lung Foundation is calling for the introduction of routine lung function tests every three years in primary care for those people most at risk, including adults over 35 with a smoking history, people who feel breathless and people who have suffered from recurrent chest infections. If diagnosed early, COPD patients can be managed more successfully and the progression of the disease can be slowed.

The British Lung Foundation is the only UK charity working for everyone affected by lung disease, providing support for affected people today and working in a variety of ways, including funding world-class research, to bring about improved treatment, care and support for the future. BLF provides information via its website, www.lunguk.org and telephone helpline: 08458 50 50 20.

For more information about Luxfer Gas Cylinders, please visit www.luxfercylinders.com.