Help us make a difference!

In 2011, Breathing Matters was founded to help fund research into pulmonary fibrosis, bronchiectasis and other interstitial lung diseases and lung function. We elected to remain a small charity so that we could focus your donations directly to our research, unlike larger charities who have larger overhead costs. In 2019/2020, 98% of your donations went straight to our research. Our funding enables earlier initiation of research projects at UCL and UCLH; to get quicker preliminary data to underpin grant applications to receive leveraged funding for larger studies; and provides vital pieces of equipment and staff to carry out the research. Read our impact report for more information.

We are here because of your support. We have plenty of  fundraising events and ideas for you to choose from. However you support us, we applaud you and thank you from the bottom of our heart … and lungs!

 Begin by choosing your event and then set up your fundraising page from the Breathing Matters Justgiving home page                                  Have a look at our fundraising tips.

Choose your event

We have hundreds of events around the UK that you can sign up for with our event partner, Run for Charity.

Our most popular UK events include the following:

Local challenges

You might prefer to opt for challenges more local to yourself. Please choose the relevant link and see your options.

Something different

New for 2025 – we have 20 Tough Mudder events across the UK – why don’t you take the ultimate challenge!

How about a fun inflatable event?  We have places all over the UK.  

Have you always wanted to try a bunjee jump?  Register for one near you.

Or maybe you want to go overseas to challenge yourself to an international marathon or half marathon, and explore Paris, Barcelona or Amsterdam at the same time?

Virtual fundraising

Through Run for Charity, we have launched a series of seasonal virtual challenge for both young and old, for the fit and not that fit. You can do these challenges in your own time and in your own way. It’s a great way of making the most of your time, having a purpose and keeping/getting fit. It is also a great way for those non-runners to get involved and run/walk a 5K or marathon at your own pace. And you can win a medal at the end (we all love a good medal!).

Choose your virtual event at: https://runforcharity.com/breathing-matters/seasonal-virtuals

Global adventures

Breathing Matters has teamed up with Global Adventure Challenges who have dozens of spectacular once in a lifetime unique challenges, including the Trek Iceland to see the Northern Lights, Mount Everest Trek, Inca Trail Trek, Trek Petra in Jordan to see one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Cambodia or Madagascar Cycle, London to Paris Tour de France, Yosemite to San Fran Cycle, Lapland Husky Trail Dog Sled and many, many more.

These are life-inspiring events – we all need to spoil ourselves and try something new.

For LOTS more information and events, visit the GAC site at: https://www.globaladventurechallenges.com/

Do your own thing

You come in all shapes and sizes and so can your challenges – they can be unique, just like you!

So many of our supporters have inspired us over the years with their original fundraisers, including tractor run, music festival, pantomime (oh yes there was), zumbathon, virtual Everest climb, motorcycle journey and 24 hour gaming.

Our supporters have raised much needed funds through donations at wedding days, birthday parties, memorial celebrations, Christenings and funerals.

And of course there’s the classic community fundraisers including charity stalls, cake bakes, jewellery sales, raffles, auctions, head shaves, coffee mornings, cheese and wine evenings and fun runs/cycles/walks… the list goes on.

Whether you’re planning an endurance challenge, a bake sale, a world record attempt or virtually climbing Everest, we salute you and thank you all for your support to help fund our vital research.

Breathing Matters Impact Report 2023

See how your donations have contributed to our groundbreaking research

2023 Impact Report

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Where there's research there's hope

Research into respiratory conditions accounts for just 2% of all the medical research funding in the UK.

Will you support respiratory research?