The British Lung Foundation (BLF) is a registered charity; number 326730. It's aims are:

  • To promote and produce information and awareness on lung disease and lung health;

  • To fund research into the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of all lung diseases;

  • To support people with lung diseaese through the Breathe Easy Club.

The BLF's Breathe Easy Club was launched in 1991 by Trevor Clay who was the first male General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing. Trevor suffered from Emphysema and understood the limits of those with breathing difficulties.

Recognising the need for people with similar conditions to get together on a regular basis to support each other, he formed Breathe Easy. Trevor died in 1995 but his legacy to the BLF lives on with over 100 groups throuhgout the U.K.



The aim of both the Cannock and Stafford Breathe Easy groups is to provide a meeting place that gives people who suffer from breathing problems the chance to meet and discuss their day to day living difficulties.

It also offers the opportunity for carers, relatives and friends to come along, share the experience and exchange ideas. We wish to promote and develop a feeling of well being for all those who are affected by breathing problems.

The group aims to develop activities within the group that will foster mutual support of members. We provide information to all members that will broaden the knowledge base of their individual conditions and stress the importance of their therapies.


We aim to increase public awareness of problems faced by lung sufferers and their carers.




The groups are open to anyone with an interest in lung complaints and who live in the Cannock, Stafford and surrounding areas. We welcome people who care about those with breathing as well as actual sufferers.


If you are too ill to attend our meetings then you can join the group as a postal member and receive all the newsletters and information that you would receive at our group meetings.




The Cannock group meets on the second Monday of each month from January through to December (except September). Meetings are held in the Davy Unit at Cannock Community Hospital, Brunswick Road, Cannock from 7.00 to 9.00pm. To see a map of this location click here.

The Stafford group meet on the third Friday of every month at St Georges Sports and Social Club, Corporation Street, Stafford from 1.00 - 3.00 pm. To see a map of this location please click here.

A specialist respiratory nurse attends all of our meetings and will be available to discuss or answer any questions that members may have. The group also have a medical advisor through Cannock Community Hospital, Dr J Yeoh MRCP Consultant Chest Physician.

There is no subscription  for membership to the groups. Members are invited to contribute towards the cost of tea, coffee and light refreshments. There is generally a small raffle, the proceeds of which help raise group funds. There also may at times  be more specific fund raising events. We are currently seeking funds for the general running of the groups, to enable us to:-

  • Hold monthly meetings throughout the year;

  • Hold an Annual General Meeting;

  • Provide costs for the Newsletters;

  • Provide informative and lighthearted speakers;

  • Provide a Christmas party;

  • Provide a Summer outing;

  • Assist with general core costs of the group.



Our main priority, as every year, is to keep the groups going. As the groups are entirely voluntary, with many members incapacitated, it is difficult to keep a continuity within the groups. More awareness of lung disease is needed as lung disease is still the UK's biggest killer.

We have, through fundraising, been able to purchase valuable equipment that can be used by our respiratory nurses. The sort of equipment that we have bought includes a portable oxygen machine, which is a lightweight machine that converts air into the required dose of oxygen. The NHS equivalent is three times heavier and twice the size.

More recently, we managed to raise the funds for a portable Blood Gas machine, used to assess whether there is an imbalance between the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide within the blood. The portable version will enable nurses to carry out this procedure by taking a blood sample from the ear within the patients home where they feel more relaxed, also the patient may feel more at ease when the procedure is performed by someone known to them. By assessing patients at home, a journey to hospital may not be necessary.

As you are aware, it is of great importance to many people in the local communities to keep our groups afloat. As they say "all donations are welcome" however large or small, help to keep the wheels turning and to give peopel with lung disease and their carers support, understanding and a sympathetic ear, as well as a social calendar of events to look forward to.

The groups are always looking for willing volunteers to help out with the general day to day running.

link to the British Lung Foundation website