A WOMAN who has suffered with asthma all her life is holding a charity ball to raise awareness.

Chrissie Quilty said the chronic condition is generally misunderstood.

With a second wave of asthma hitting her after her first year at university in 2014, she found many people failed understand how serious it could be.

Chrissie, 24, , from Colchester, said: “I was born with hereditary asthma as was my brother, so I’ve always managed it and it did reduce in my teens.

“In my first year at university I had a really bad attack in my halls of residence and it meant I had to start taking steroids again.

“Triggers are different for everybody with asthma but if I can make people more aware of the most obvious triggers it could save some potentially fatal attacks.

“For example, aerosols in an enclosed changing room at the gym are really difficult for me to breathe around and I have had a number of asthma attacks purely from this.

“If bad enough, the trigger will make the asthmatic’s airways feel tighter and tighter, creating an inability to breathe which can be terrifying.”

In order to raise money and awareness she will be hosting a charity ball in aid of Asthma UK.

It will be held at the Marks Tey Hotel on October 5 and Chrissie is looking for sponsors, auction prizes and businesses to get involved.

The ticket price of £40 includes a three course meal and entertainment.

Chrissie is also undertaking a British Sign Language course with Colchester-based company ISign Learning and Development.

She said: “Steps will be taken to ensure those who cannot hear at this event still learn about asthma, still have fun and still feel included in everything. Inclusivity matters hugely to me, and I understand to an extent from having asthma what it feels like to have a hidden condition.”

To find out more about the charity ball email asthmaawarenessfundraising@gmail.com.