76 year old Jack Evans has turned his passion for restoring vintage motor cars into a national awareness and fund raising campaign for a deadly lung condition that affects two million Australians1 as he travels from Perth to Armidale in a Triumph Super Seven of the same age.
In memory of his late wife Gill, who passed away in 2006 after battling Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) for 16 years, Jack Evans, from Armidale in NSW, and his daughter Alison will raise awareness of COPD throughout October as they retrace Armstrong and Manley's 1929 4,000km journey across the Nullarbor from Perth to Sydney in their brand new Triumph.
On the 80th anniversary of the historic journey, Jack and his daughter will stop at many towns along the way to increase awareness about COPD and raise much needed funds to assist the ongoing support services provided by The Australian Lung Foundation.
A former cabinet-maker by trade Jack has spent the last three years restoring his Triumph - which now includes distinctive 'Triumph for Breath' signage.
"I'm thrilled to have finally finished restoring this beautiful car which has been in my shed gathering dust for the last 35 years. As well as commemorating Armstrong and Manley's journey I am looking forward to getting on the road and doing my bit to raise awareness of COPD and much needed funds for The Australian Lung Foundation," said Jack Evans.
'I hope to raise $12,000 on my trip, that's $3.00 a km, as well as highlight the long-term damage smoking can cause," he said.
COPD is the umbrella term given to a long-term lung condition that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. COPD causes breathlessness which worsens over time until simple daily activities such as showering or making a cup of tea become almost impossible.
Alarmingly, as many as three out of four Australians with COPD are unaware they have the disease and are therefore not taking important steps to manage the condition.2
COPD is the seventh leading cause of death in Australia3 and the second leading cause of avoidable Australian hospital admissions,4 accounting for more than 50,000 admissions each year.5
Anyone who has been a smoker, or is a smoker and suffers from some shortness of breath and/or a productive cough, should see their GP and take a simple lung function test. While COPD is incurable, there are treatments available that can help people reduce their symptoms, improve
their quality of life and stay out of hospital.
Jack will drive the Triumph Super Seven from Armidale to Adelaide where the car will continue its journey to Perth via Motor rail on The Indian Pacific. Jack will meet his daughter Alison in Perth, who is flying in from Bermuda especially for the trip, where the 'Triumph for Breath' journey will depart Perth on 11 October and travel through Kalgoorlie, Ceduna, Port Augusta, Broken Hill and Tamworth before arriving home in Armidale at the end of October.
To follow Jack's journey or provide a donation visit www.lungfoundation.com.au.
The Australian Lung Foundation is able to provide advice, support and assistance to those with COPD around the country. Patients and their carers can call the Lung Foundation's Information and Support Centre on 1800 654 301.
NB - In 1929 Percival Armstrong and George Manley drove from Perth across the Nullarbor to Sydney in just eight and a half days in a Triumph Super Seven. This epic journey by Armstrong and Manley was to prove that the Triumph was more than just "a nice little town car".
For further information please contact Mairead McLaughlin at Ethical Strategies on 02 8904
7340 or 0405 951 572.
References:
1. Access Economics. Economic Impact of COPD and Cost Effective Solutions.18 October 2008.
2. Frith P. Prevalence and Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in Australia. Australian Lung
Foundation, November 2004.
3. Australia's Health 2006. Chronic diseases mortality in Australia.
(http://www.aihw.gov.au/cdarf/data_pages/mortality/index.cfm)
4. Page A, Abrose S, Glover J et al. Atlas of Avoidable Hospitalisations in Australia: ambulatory care-sensitive
conditions. Adelaide PHIDU, University of Adelaide, 2007.
5. Australia's Health 2008, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. p205.
(http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/aus/ah08/ah08.pdf)
