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Im told I had my first asthmatic attack when I was three months old! Mum noticed me breathing heavily and panicked. But Dad's family calmed her down, saying others in their family experienced the same thing. We lived in Merebank, in the notorious South Durban basin,where air pollution was the order of the day and respiratory disease was rife.

My parents were very protective of me. They had lost their first son when he was less than a day old because his lungs were too small. Afraid to lose me too, they were very strict and discouraged me from exerting myself physically. The slightest hint of an asthma attack and I would be rushed indoors and told to take it easy. At school teachers would allow me to skip physical education and I often used this as an excuse when i was felt lazy. My condition became self-serving and I believe many asthmatics fall into this trap.

Despite this I actually loved sport, although I was not very good at most of them, but did play quite a few. But it was running and walking that I truly loved. At first I was afraid that running longer distances would cause an attack but later realised that running actually improved my lungs once I got started. However, asthmatics genrally have weaker muscles than other people so stamina usually keeps us back.

Throughout my life i have walked when others would drive and so kept fit this way but recently decided to take up running properly. For my own fitness yes, but also to encourage other asthmatics to take up the sport. There are many asthmatics involved in competitive sport but more often than not the disease is used as an excuse. I want to help change this. Join me on my journey. Keeran Sewsunker/TarmacTitan

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