Breathing is normal. Asia

"My name is Asia. People like me are not counted. But I've been alive for 15 years now; I exist. We exist. And I agreed to be one of the participants of this project, because I, and other people like me, need oxygen concentrators to stay alive. Nobody can live without oxygen. Your lungs are able to obtain it from the surrounding air. But mine cannot. There are days when I am extremely short of breath and completely dependent on my oxygen concentrator. I am going to take part in the Marathon to show that we exist, we are alive, and we need oxygen."

Asia has a severe congenital disorder which affects the entire body, including progressive damage to the lungs every year. So far, no treatment has yet been invented anywhere which could cure people like Asya. But there is a schedule, physical and medical therapy, which allow an individual even with this severe disorder to live, to grow up, to study and work, to create a family and give birth to healthy children... just like everyone else. But for that to happen, a diligent effort of the affected individual and the support of people around them is essential. Also needed are medications, physicians and physical therapists, and medical equipment. With the help of an oxygen concentrator, Asya would be able to live for many years to come – and to live fully.

"And another dream of mine is to have a portable oxygen concentrator, so I could travel. At this time, I am stuck at home, next to my home oxygen concentrator and the electric outlet it's plugged into, and every day, I must consider how much energy I have to spare... I'm 15, I want to be free and not to worry over suddenly not being able to breathe...and what to do in such a case." Asia wrote this a day before her dream came true – she received a gift of a battery-powered portable oxygen concentrator.

But there are hardly more than a dozen people in the entire country of Ukraine who were equally fortunate. And even the stationary oxygen concentrators are only available to two or three hundred people, while thousands of people need them. Thousands of people are gasping for breath right next to us. Asya is going to take part in the Marathon in order to speak for all of them. And for the first time, Asia's parents are also going to participate right along with her. Because strength is in being together.

To breathe is normal.

All of the funds raised by this project will be used to purchase oxygen equipment and the disposable supplies for it. Please support us, and Asia and her family. Oxygen must be available to everyone who needs it