ASTHMA sufferer Jonathan Schofield has literally got on his bike to raise cash for a Bolton clinic which helped his younger sister lead a better quality of life.

Jonathan cycled the 61 miles from Manchester to Blackpool, to raise £140 for Bolton General Hospital's asthma clinic in recognition of the work it has done to help his 13-year-old sister Victoria, a chronic asthma sufferer.

Victoria has spent 12 of her 13 years receiving treatment in the clinic and as an in-patient at Bolton General.

Jonathan, a pupil at Lords College, Bolton, rode for six hours along the roads between Manchester and Blackpool.

The 15-year-old, who is also an asthma sufferer and Victoria, of Springfield Road, Kearsley, have a great deal to thank the unit for.

Jonathan is a keen swimmer and a member of Bolton Thai Boxing Club - and he's now anxious to complete the ride again next year.

Dr Roger Watt, clinical director of child health at Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust, said the money would go towards monitoring equipment for acutely ill asthmatic children.

"We are very grateful to Jonathan," said Dr Watt.

On Monday, to mark the start of National Asthma Week, the Channel 4 documentary programme Cutting Edge will transmit "Fighting for Breath", a programme which underlines the alarming findings of a new report published by the National Asthma Campaign.

The programme powerfully demonstrates the dangerous and disabling impact of severe asthma by highlighting how the disease has affected four people in and around Birmingham in the West Midlands where asthma is increasing faster than anywhere else in the country.

Melinda Letts, National Asthma Campaign chief executive: "This is a major public health issue that will not go away by itself and which demands that we develop creative strategies that will reach everyone with asthma and do not exclude those who are most vulnerable."

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