Asthma ambassadors
Schalk Burger
Schalk Burger is one of the most hard-working members of the Springbok squad, and one of the best flankers in the world. He was picked for the world-cup winning Springboks 2007 Rugby World Cup squad.
What most people do not know about Schalk, is that he has asthma, and has been fighting against this since he was very young. When Schalk was young, he suffered from severe asthma and needed to be on preventer treatment every day as well as emergency reliever treatment for tight chests. Despite this, he never let this limit his activity or life in any way and he is one of the toughest sportsmen in South Africa! At present Schalk’s asthma is much better and although he does not need preventer treatment, he has an emergency reliever pump with him at all times.
He is registered as an asthmatic with the relevant sports authorities and has the clearance certificates needed to allow professional athletes to use their reliever treatment without fear of being accused of using performance enhancing drugs.
Schalk strongly believes that all asthmatics should be aware of their illness and the correct treatment, and use the best available medications regularly so that their symptoms are fully under control. This is the way to ensure that, like Schalk, all asthmatics can achieve their full potential with no limitations of their activity.
Moeneeb Joseph
Moeneeb Josephs has played 10 games for South Africa at international level, including being the number one goalkeeper at the recent Africa Cup of Nations 2008. He started his career in his home town of Cape Town, but moved to Bidvest Wits in 2006 for a PSL record breaking free of R2 million. He became an integral part of the team and its captain. In June 2008 he left to join Orlando Pirates for another record breaking fee of R2.5 million.
Moeneeb suffers from asthma and has the required exemption (medical) certificate to allow him to use his reliever pump (salbutamol). In 2005, he was banned from football activities for six months after testing positive for salbutamol because his former club, Ajax Cape Town, failed to renew his exemption certificate. A groundswell of support rose up from supporters and sports bodies and a public statement of support came from the National Asthma Education Programme. After a successful appeal, the ban was turned into a suspended sentence. Moeneeb has supported NAEP with World Asthma Day activities to highlight that asthmatics can achieve whatever they wish in sporting arenas.
Mark Lottering
Well known comedian, Mark Lottering, has supported NAEP on many occasions. Recently he wrote the following poem for World Asthma Day.
HE’S EXACTLY LIKE ME
My best friend has asthma but you never could tell.
Because when we go out jolling he looks bladdy well.
He’s lug-voet on the dance floor, like lightning my broer.
(He’ll be as good as me in so one year or two).
Sometimes now and then I see him use his pump.
Then I nogal get sad, in my throat grows a lump.
Cos I think ag man shame my chommie is sick.
He can’t keep up with us elke dag van die week.
But when I tell him I’m worried he just gooi’s me a smile.
And tells me to chill like a croc in the Nile.
He tells me: wees rustig soos water op ‘n vuur.
Then I smile and realise that he’s exactly like me.
John Spengler
John was first diagnosed with asthma at around 2 ½. Right from the beginning I allowed him to do any sport he like and tried to teach him that he needs to live with his asthma but not to let it control him. I also told him that he needs to do the things other children do.
When John started school he did ball skills which taught the children skills from Cricket and Hockey. In Grade 3 he took up mini cricket and mini hockey and swimming. He also started to sing at St George Cathedral. He is now in Grade 5. He plays sport 4 days a week: cricket, swimming and hockey. He has practices for the Choir four times a week and performs on Thursday and Sunday nights.
I have never stopped his controller medication even if his asthma seemed to be under control. His sport teachers know about his asthma and he always has his reliever pump on him and he knows how to use it.
His message to other children is this:
You need to learn to live with your conditions and not allow it to control you. You can do anything that other children do. Sometime you chest gets sore and you might need to sit down. But on the whole live life to it’s fullness.
John Spengler – Grade 5 – Age: 11½.
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Edward John Allies
I play soccer and am the captain of my school team and belong to a soccer club called First National Rangers. In 2007 I was the highest goal scorer for the season and was voted player’s player for the season. I am the highest academic achiever for my grade level and am a class monitor. I love swimming and would like to swim for South Africa one day. Ryk Neethling is my favourite international swimmer. I am a keen supporter of Manchester United and my favourite player is Christiano Ronaldo. My ambition is to become a marine biologist and I would like to travel the world one day. My message to young achievers and children with asthma, is that you can become anything you like just as long as you take your medication regularly and stay away from drugs, alcohol and cigarettes.
