Jacob Richards, 6, peeks over the shoulders of his mother, Janet Richards, at a raffle ticket after the Blow the Whistle for Asthma walk Saturday morning outside Breslin Center. He and his mother walk in the 5K every year. They raised a combined total of $615 this year for asthma awareness.
Sometimes it’s hard for Janet Richards to remember that her active son, 6-year-old Jacob Richards, was diagnosed with asthma when he was only 1.
After raising a total of $615, Janet Richards and her son were among the 100 registered participants at the American Lung Association of Michigan’s 9th annual Blow the Whistle on Asthma walk Saturday. The three-mile walk began at Breslin Center, and circled around Red Cedar River.
“We are able to raise a lot of money,” Janet Richards said. “It’s not like your typical fundraiser, we know that these people are actually trying to personally help Jacob.”
On the event Web site, potential donors were able to read the life stories and view photographs of people — like Jacob Richards — who have asthma and put a face to the cause.
Jacob Richards is one of more than 900,000 Michigan residents who have been diagnosed with asthma. More than 40,000 of those who have asthma live in the tri-county area of Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties, said Caryl Markzon, a coordinator for Blow the Whistle on Asthma.
“There was a need in the community to raise awareness about asthma,” Markzon said.
“They decided to have the walk not only to raise money, but to educate people about asthma.”
The goal of Blow the Whistle for Asthma was to raise $30,000, and it raised a total of $15,413, according to the event Web site.
Last year, Blow the Whistle for Asthma raised $25,000, Markzon said.
Jacob Richards has gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, and primary immune deficiency, which means he has to take nine different medications daily, Janet Richards said. But his high energy level makes his condition hard to notice.
“I just got done with soccer and now I’m playing baseball,” said Jacob Richards, who has played soccer for three years. “I want to be a professional soccer player some day.”
Even though he takes a lot of medication, Janet Richards said her son knows how and where to gather his supplies and knows the proper steps for taking the medications.
“It’s funny because babysitters freak out when they see all of the medication, but I’m confident when I leave because I know that Jacob knows what to do,” Janet Richards said.
“It’s sad, but having to take all his medication has made him mature faster.”
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