Latest News

WE ARE HIRING!

MASH's July 2022 Newsletter

Meet our new Trustee's and Coordinator. You can also find out about our Asthma Educational Event and have a go at our wordsearch!

MASH's Asthma Advent 2021

MASH's Annual Report 2021

MASH's AGM – Thursday 18th November 2021, 7pm, via Zoom

We warmly welcome you to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Medway Asthma Self-Help (MASH) at 7pm on Thursday 19th November, which will be held online, via Zoom, again this year.

You can find out more details and register to attend the AGM here.

If you would like to be added to the MASH mailing list to receive emails about meetings, AGMs, our annual report etc, then you can fill in the mailing list form here.

MASH's October 2021 Newsletter

Statement from MASH, 15th October 2021

MASH's August 2021 Newsletter

MASH's School September Spike Newsletter – July 2021

Focus on Asthma, Published with Healthwatch Medway in June 2021

MASH's June 2021 Newsletter

MASH Online Quiz Night – Saturday 26th June, 7pm

Clean Air Day 2021

This year, Clean Air Day is on Thursday 17th June, with the theme of 'Let's Protect Our Children's Health From Air Pollution.

'Every year, air pollution causes up to 36,000 deaths in the UK. The World Health Organisation and the UK Government recognise that air pollution is the largest environmental health risk we face today. Poor air quality causes heart and lung diseases, is linked to low birth rate and children's lung development and may even contribute to mental health issues.'

MASH will be joining in with Clean Air Day 2021 online and via social media to help improve public understanding of air pollution and how it affects our health (particularly for people and families affected by asthma in Medway). We will help show the easy actions you can take to tackle air pollution and protect the environment, and to improve everyone's health.

Find out more about Clean Air Day 2021 here.

Calculate your personal air pollution contribution here.

Below you will also find several leaflets from Clean Air Day about how air pollution affects your health:

Clive's MASH 25 Hair Challenge

MASH's chair of trustees, Clive, has challenged himself to raise funds for MASH's 25th Birthday celebrations with 25 hairstyles over 25 day, all before the big post-lockdown haircut.

If you would like to support Clive's fundraising, then you can do so here: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CliveJohnson8

You can see Clive's hairstyles each day on our social media (Facebook and Twitter) and on our 25th Birthday page.

Wendy's Online Family Quiz Night – Friday 28th May, 7pm

Wendy's next quiz is on Friday 28th May at 7pm.

To find out how to join us, email medwayasthmaselfhelp@btconnect.com or send a message via social media or our contact page here.

If you would like to donate to Wendy's challenge, then you can do so here: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/WendyPalmer7

MASH's Online Silent Auction

Earth Day 2021

MASH's Online Silent Auction

MASH's April 2021 Newsletter

MASH Quiz Night – Saturday 27th February, 7pm – Celebrating Earth Day 2021

Wendy's Online Family Quiz Night – Friday 26th March, 7pm

Wendy's next quiz is on Friday 26th March at 7pm.

To find out how to join us, email medwayasthmaselfhelp@btconnect.com or send a message via social media or our contact page here.

If you would like to donate to Wendy's challenge, then you can do so here: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/WendyPalmer7

MASH's Virtual DIY Pamper Evening

MASH's February 2021 Newsletter

MASH Quiz Night – Saturday 27th February, 7pm

Wendy's Online Family Quiz Night – Friday 22nd January, 7pm

Our fabulous MASH volunteer, Wendy, challenged herself to raise £1,000 for MASH in 2020 and she reached her target in December. What an amazing acheivement! Well done, Wendy, and thank you so much for all your hard work.

Wendy's family fun quiz nights have been so popular, in fact, that players asked her to continue them in 2021 whilst the ideas keep coming! Wendy's next quiz is on Friday 22nd January at 7pm.

To find out how to join us, email medwayasthmaselfhelp@btconnect.com or send a message via social media or our contact page here.

If you would like to donate to Wendy's challenge, then you can do so here: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/WendyPalmer7

Happy New Year! – January 2021

We've had a lovely break and now it's time to get back to helping you keep your asthma well-controlled. We are now in Lockdown 3, but we are still working hard to help you.

So if you need some support with your or a loved one's asthma, if your annual asthma review is due, if your personalised asthma action plan is out of date (over a year old) or you don't have one, then get in touch to book a FREE telephone appointment with our asthma nurse.

Our booking phonelines are now back to our usual opening times – Monday morning (9am to midday), Thursday evenings (5pm to 8pm) and Friday afternoons (2pm to 5pm). Outside of these times please leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible. 

You can also send an email to medwayasthmaselfhelp@btconnect.com, or send a message via social media (Facebook: @Medway.selfhelp and Twitter: @MedwayAsthma) or our contact page.

All of our services are FREE and open to all.

Due to the continuing coronavirus situation, we continue to offer asthma advice and support by telephone appointments with our asthma nurse only. If you would like to be added to the waiting list for when we are able to resume airbourne allergy testing, please get in touch.

MASH's Christmas 2020 Closure dates

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful and Healthy New Year!

Launching our asthma comic for children.

If you have been following our advent calendar this month, then you will have seen lots of our cartoon images from our children's asthma comic. Our mascot, Deano, takes you through the important information you need to know to ensure that you can look after your asthma properly. You can download a copy of our new comic in the link below. We hope you enjoy the comic!

Funding from the coronavirus community support fund, distributed by The National Lottery Community Fund, has helped Medway Asthma Self-Help (MASH) to produce this comic for children with asthma, and has helped MASH continue to support people and families affected by asthma in Medway over the last six months. Thanks to the government for making this possible.

MASH's December 2020 Newsletter

The trustees of MASH are pleased to release our December 2020 newsletter, which you can download using the link below:

Wendy's £1,000 Challenge –

December's Online Family Christmas Quiz Night

Our amazing volunteer, Wendy, has challenged herself to raise £1,000 for MASH. She is doing this by hosting monthly quiz nights via Zoom. 

Wendy is running a Christmas-themed quiz night on Friday 18th December, with additional points for the best dressed or decorated team. If you would like to join us then please email medwayasthmaselfhelp@btconnect.com or send a message via our contact page here for more details.

If you would like to help Wendy by making a donation to her challenge then you can do so here: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/WendyPalmer7

Asthma Advent

We all need a bit of cheering up and what better way to celebrate our new children's asthma comic, than an asthma advent calendar.

You may have seen sneak bits of our cartoons, especially of our mascot, Deano, over the last few months, but this advent we will be sharing more with you – and the comic in full on Christmas Eve – and raising asthma awareness with some festive fun at the same time.

Join us each morning on our social media channels at 10 a.m. to see the next picture and asthma fact/tip – starting on 1st December. And remember to come see our asthma comic in full on here on Christmas Eve. Facebook: @medway.selfhelp. Twitter: @MedwayAsthma. Instagram: medwayasthma.

You will also see pictures from our comic, a puzzle and asthma information from Medway Asthma Self-Help in the Nucleus Arts Christmas/December Nucleus Social magazine, being distributed to over 11,000 families in Medway this month.

Funding from the Coronavirus Community Support Fund, distributed by The National Lottery Community Fund, has helped us to produce this children's asthma comic and to continue our work supporting those affected by asthma in Medway. Thanks to the Government for making this possible.

Wendy's £1,000 Challenge –

November's Online Family Quiz Night

Our amazing volunteer, Wendy, has challenged herself to raise £1,000 for MASH. She is doing this by hosting monthly quiz nights via Zoom. 

Wendy is running another quiz night on Friday 20th November. If you would like to join us then please email medwayasthmaselfhelp@btconnect.com or send a message via our contact page here for more details.

If you would like to help Wendy by making a donation to her challenge then you can do so here: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/WendyPalmer7

EGM & AGM – Thursday 19th November 2020, 7pm

We warmly welcome you to an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) followed by the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Medway Asthma Self-Help (MASH) at 7pm on Thursday 19th September, which this year – due to Covid-19 – will be held online.

You can find out more details and register to attend the EGM & AGM here.

If you would like to be added to the MASH mailing list to receive emails about meetings, AGMs, our annual report etc, then you can fill in the mailing list form here.

Wendy's £1,000 Challenge – October's Online Family Quiz Night

Our amazing volunteer, Wendy, has challenged herself to raise £1,000 for MASH. She is doing this by hosting monthly quiz nights via Zoom. 

Wendy is running another quiz night on Friday 23rd October. If you would like to join us then please email medwayasthmaselfhelp@btconnect.com or send a message via our contact page here for more details.

If you would like to help Wendy by making a donation to her challenge then you can do so here: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/WendyPalmer7

MASH's energy is 100% renewable

MASH is committed to playing its part in improving the quality of the air that we breathe. Martin Farebrother, vice-chair of MASH's trustees, said:

'I am pleased to announce that MASH has now contracted with Good Energy for their electricity supply from September 2020. Good Energy supply 100% renewable electricity, reducing air pollution, and reducing CO2 production which contributes to global warming. This will cost MASH less than the present contract.'

Wendy's £1,000 Challenge – September's Online Family Quiz Night

Our amazing volunteer, Wendy, has challenged herself to raise £1,000 for MASH. She is doing this by hosting monthly quiz nights via Zoom. 

After raising almost £500 in her first two quiz nights, Wendy is running a third quiz night on Friday 25th September. If you would like to join us then please email medwayasthmaselfhelp@btconnect.com or send a message via our contact page here for more details.

If you would like to help Wendy by making a donation to her challenge then you can do so here: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/WendyPalmer7

You are doing an amazing job, Wendy. Thank you.

Wendy's £1,000 Challenge – August's Online Family Quiz Night

Our amazing volunteer, Wendy, has challenged herself to raise £1,000 for MASH. She is doing this by hosting monthly quiz nights via Zoom. 

After the success of her first quiz night in July (that raised over £300), Wendy is running a second quiz night on Friday 21st August. If you would like to join us then please email medwayasthmaselfhelp@btconnect.com or send a message via our contact page here for more details.

If you would like to help Wendy by making a donation to her challenge then you can do so here: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/WendyPalmer7

Well done, Wendy!

MASH's July 2020 Newsletter

The trustees of MASH are pleased to release our July 2020 newsletter, which you can download using the link below:

Wendy's £1,000 Challenge – Online Family Quiz Nights

Our amazing volunteer, Wendy, has challenged herself to raise £1,000 for MASH. She is doing this by hosting monthly quiz nights via Zoom. 

If you would like to join us at her first quiz night on Friday 24th July then please email medwayasthmaselfhelp@btconnect.com or send a message via our contact page here for more details.

If you would like to help Wendy by making a donation to her challenge then you can do so here: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/WendyPalmer7

Well done, Wendy, we can't wait to join you at the quiz.

MASH's Asthma Poster Competition Winners Announced (June 2020)

Thank you to everyone who entered our asthma poster competition. You all did amazing designs and it was very hard for our judges to decide! But the winner of the 'Up to 8 years' category was Iylah (aged 8) with her poster and acrostic poem, and the winner of our '9 to 13 years' category was Louise (aged 11) with her portrait of our mascot, Deano. Both won a £10 book token. There were also three runners up announced, each receiving a £5 book token. Well done, everyone. Thank you so much for helping MASH to tell people all about asthma.

MASH's May 2020 Newsletter

The trustees of MASH are pleased to release our May 2020 newsletter, which you can download using the link below:

Poster Competition – May 2020

On Friday 1st May 2020, MASH launched its Asthma Poster Competition so that you can help us to raise awareness of asthma. We are looking for some amazing designs that we can use online and in print to help remind people to look after their asthma – so get creative and help us to support people affected by asthma in Medway.

We are really looking forward to seeing your submissions. Full details on entering the competition, the prizes, deadlines and the full terms and conditions can be found here.

APRIL 2020 – We would like to say a big thank you to Rose and Thomas who took on the 2.6 Challenge in aid of MASH. Trampolining for 2.6 minutes in each of 26 different costumes. We love your video and it certainly made us all smile and cheered us up. Thank you to everyone that has sponsored them too: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/roseandthomas. This money will help MASH to continue to support people affected by asthma in Medway. You can see their video below:

Medway Asthma Self-Help (MASH) Coronavirus (COVID-19) Statement – Monday 16th March, 2020

MASH is a Medway charity that supports people who have asthma and we take seriously the health needs of our clients and their families.

With immediate effect, we are suspending all outreach activities in the community, in addition to our regular Friday afternoon face-to-face advice sessions that were suspended last week.

Medway Asthma Self-Help (MASH) Coronavirus (COVID-19) Statement – Monday 9th March, 2020

MASH is a Medway charity that supports people who have asthma.

We take seriously the health needs of our clients and their families. For that reason, and in response to the confirmation of cases of coronavirus in Medway, we will suspend our regular Friday afternoon face-to-face advice sessions. However, we will provide telephone consultations as an alternative, which can be booked in the usual way.

December 2019

MASH recently receieved funding from Medway Corporate Giving Fund (managed by Kent Community Foundation) after a 'Dragon's Den'-style pitch of our outreach project to their board. This funding will help us improve and expand our outreach in 2020 so that more communities across Medway will access our support and advise on asthma and asthma-related issues. You can read more about the day here.

October 2019

A very exciting day for MASH and anyone with asthma in Medway. Today we received an amazing donation from Bedfont Scientific Ltd of a NObreath FeNo monitor. This monitor measures inflammation in the airways and will help with diagnosis and monitoring of asthma. It will be a great addition to our nurse-led asthma advice sessions. Thank you so much to the team at Bedfont for your support of MASH's work.

November 2018

Huge thanks to the staff at our local Cornwallis and Twydall Green Co-op Stores and all the members who have supported MASH this year and helped raise £3,173.60! Staff, trustees and Deano the Dinosaur had great time celebrating with you earlier today! Thank you! #thecoopway

We are looking forward to working with you this coming year and thanks to all who have supported - this will make a huge difference to us!

November 2018 - thanks to all who attended our AGM on 15th November and to Dr Natt Day who  gave  a fascinationg insight into the asthma in schools outreach programme currently being piloted in London by QMC London.  If you would like a copy of our annual report please get in touch!

September 2018 MASH is coming near to the end of being one of the local charities to benefit from local Co-op Stores at Twydall and Beechings Way...its not too late to select MASH tobenefit from any local Co-op customers who opt to have us as their named charity within a 15 mile radius who can select us by setting up or logging on to membership pages here ....we will be celebrating the Coop's support  inm November so watch this space!

14/15th September 2018 - We attended the University of Kent Moving in Weekend and were present with inforamtion alongside MCH Sunlight Surgery  for any students enrolling who might want to know about us because of their asthma or looking for projects or volunteering opportunities. We will be back at the GK Unions Volunteering Fait in October....maybe we can bring Deano to meet a slightly more meacing counterpart??

September 2018 MASH representatives are here looking happy but it with a sad heart we had a final farewell and thank you meeting with staff at Sainsburys Hempstead Valley who have been absolutely wonderful in supporting MASH as their local charity of the Year 2017-8....Thanks to all customers and staff who voted and helped throughout the year and of course our wonderful volunteers!

14th July 2018 - We certainly made a SPLASH for MASH at our annual sponsored swim event at Roko Gillingham....our 8 swimmers rasied a total of  £575 and we counted more than 300 lengths - huge huige thansk to all involved and to Roko for hosting us once again!

16th June 2018 - Thanks to our guest quiz master, we had a fantastic and fun night at Roko and raised over £500 - thank you all supporters, to Roko for hosting and a special thanks to all helpers on the night who made it run so smoothly! 

31st May - 2nd June  2018 - thanks so much to Sainsburys for having us for our final outreach as Local Chairty of the Year! We met a lot of people who needed our support, a really useful weekend......

20th May 2018 -MASH attended the Hempstead Fayre  and what a busy day! Thanks to everyone who had a go at our Hook a Duck or picked a card games!  An extra big thank you to the Hempstead Fayre Committee who donated £500 to MASH this year! It really is one of our favourite annual events!

1st May 2018 - Our Coordinator , Fiona, and volunteers Michael and Martin ran an asthma awareness stall the Pentagon Shopping Centre in Chatham on World Asthma Day.  We had a few donations  but most importantly spoke with a number of asthmatics, carers and potential volunteers. Thanks everyone for your support and to the Centre Management for letting us come along.

20th January 2018 Thanks so much everyone who came along or supported our quiz - it was a really great turnout  with over 90 people and we had such lovely feedback - thank you! 

We have already taken the first booking for our next one on 16th June so let us know if you want to reserve a table...??

 Great to see everyone at the MASH AGM last Thursday and a really interesting talk was given by Dr John Dickinson and William Gowers of the University of Kent School of Sport Sciences on their work and research around EXERCISE AND ASTHMA....if anyone is interested in finding out more , would like to take part in their research or have any other questions please let us know and we are happy to put you in touch!

November 2017 MASH is thrilled to be successfully accepted as one of the local charities to benefit from local Co-op Stores at Twydall and Beechings Way...plus MASH will benefit from any local Co-op customers who opt to have us as their named charity within a 15 mile radius who can select us by setting up or logging on to membership pages here   

 3 November 2017

Thanks so much all guests, sellers and therapists who turned out at our Pamper Evening last night! We really appreciate your support...Hope to see you at our next one on 3rd March 2017....thank you!

13th October 2017 

Despite our date clashing with several other local charity quizzes, thanks to some regular and a few new supporters we had a great quiz and managed to raise more than £400. Chris and Christine Rogers produced a varied and challenging quiz and we were helped very efficiently by our fabulous young volunteers. Thank you so much all the local businesses which donated raffle prizes and to our fantasic hosts Roko Gillingham especially.

30th September 2017 

What a fantastic time we had at our 21st Birthday BASH for MASH with supporters, volunteers and friends old and new! A great end to our September awareness campaign; a wonderful way to mark this important milestone in MASH's history and an opportunity to show our appreciation to our outgoing Chairman of many years, Cllr Nick Bowler.

Thank you everyone who helped us - Roko Gillingham, Viva Saxophone Quartet, Vince Maple and Glenn, Angel Catering, Bola Adeyoye Cakes Events-Rentals, Sainsbury's Hempstead Valley and Wild Balloons!
Thank you everyone who came along to celebrate with us, everyone unable to who donated towards the evening or sent well wishes and to all the helpers on the night! Your support was and is massively appreciated!
More than £500 was raised as a result of the event, which will go towards helping us continue to support asthmatics and their families in the Medway Towns 

11th September 2017 - Our September Publicity Campaign, designed to mark the 21st anniversary of MASH becoming a charity, is well underway with a series of outreach, workshops and of course our Bash for MASH party on 30 September at Roko Gillingham.

On Saturday 9th September we were again at Sainsbury's Hempstead Valley  with the support of Sainsbury's running a raffle, raising funds and speaking with many people who need our help. Thank you Sainsbury's! #SainsburysLocalCharityOfTheYear #hempsteadvalley

23rd August   We are excited with plans underway for our

21st Birthday Party....

22nd August  MASH is delighted to announce that it has been chosen by Team 13 at the NCS Medway wave 2 this August, who are fundraising for several charities including MASH! They are doing a sponsored walk, bake sale and holding a quiz this Friday in Rainham.....Any keen quizzers are encouraged to come along and support this amazing effort and if you can't raise a team, if anyone is interested in joining a MASH table please get in touch as we are trying to pull one together....you can also donate/sponsor them here 

15th August    MASH attended the Medway Youth Trust annual Charity Fair at Gillingham Park to raise awareness of MASH and also to meet NCS participants who were looking for local projects to support in their social action activities.

6th August We had a great couple of days at our our launch as #localcharityoftheyear at #Sainsburys Hempstead Valley, a huge thank you to the kind generosity of Sainsbury's customers and all the staff who came to help man the store. The winners of the competitions have been informed by Salisbury's and around £300 was raised, so a wonderful start. We will be back in September as part of our campaign to raise more awareness of asthma and MASH activities and hopefully raise more funds!

4-5th August 2017

Come along and say hello and have a go at children's crafts or summer games with a chance to win a hamper of toys or summer party goodies at our launch as #localcharityoftheyear at #Sainsburys Hempstead Valley!

11^th July 2017

Hooray !! MASH has been selected #SainsburysLocalCharityOfTheYear. at our local Hempstead Valley store. We are massively excited to be given this opportunity - thank you everyone who has helped us get there!

16^th June 2017

Thank you so much everyone who attended and supported us on Friday 16^th June at our summer quiz; thank you to all our volunteers who helped out in the run up and on the night and also to all the local businesses who donated to prizes and quiz prizes!  Next Quiz is on Friday 13th October - save the date!

14^th June 2017

MASH has been selected as charity of the year for our local University of the Third Age (U3a) and will be holding monthly raffles, kicked off  on 14^th June at its AGM. Thank you all who donated and all who supported!

21^st May 2107

Another great day at Hempstead Village Fayre with fab weather, raising awareness and funds for MASH with over 181 ducks hooked!

29th April 2017

Thank you so much to Elaine, Robin and the rest of the team at Tesco Extra Gillingham for your fabulous donation of toiletries and makeup for fundraising raffles and ladies pamper events - much appreciated!

29th April 2017

Thank you to all the swimmers and all who helped in planning and on the day with our Splash for MASH 
sponsored swim event, thank you to Roko Gillingham 
for being such great hosts and thank you to to the Medway Mermaids @medwaysyncro for a great display to kick of proceedings. We have 2 weeks to gather in fundraising so watch this space to find out who won the prizes ....

23rd April 2017 

Sean Hanna, one of fabulous volunteers, has completed 
the #LondonMarathon2017, fulfilling a long-held dream, while raising funds for two causes close to his heart - MASH and Kent Bat Group, raising £230 to date for each of his chose charities – thank you so much Sean!

18th February 2017 

Thanks so much to everyone involved in our Ladies Pamper Evening last night - to who provided therapies and stall holders, guests, volunteers on the night or those who helped behind the scenes and to Gillingham Golf Club for being such fantastic hosts - next one is 14th July, same time same place!

20th January 2017  - MASH's first quiz of 2017 went off with a bang, fab atmosphere and wonderful generous support of those who attended and donated.  Thank you Roko Gillingham for hosting and to our Trustee Judith Pender who made a great quiz master!  Next one to be confirmed but is planned for June 2017....

Fantastic MASH AGM on Tuesday evening with guest speaker, Dr Alaisdair Stewart, Consultant Chest and Allergy Physician from Medway Maritime Hospital.... thanks to everyone who came along and helped us to mark another year gone by and celebrate our 20th birthday!

Great fun was had at the KM Charity Team 5k colour run on 12th June 2016, raising money for MASH and KM Charity Team - thanks all who supported and to the NINE runners who together raise more than £550 for MASH!