Our Head of Communications, Lucy Fox, caught up with Steve Morris following his completion of a 10-week Breathe Sing for Lung Health course.
Breathe Sing for Lung Health is a programme for patients with respiratory conditions, which helps manage symptoms through physical warm-ups, vocal exercises and group singing. Delivered in partnership with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS respiratory team, Breathe Sing is now offered to people with chronic respiratory and lung conditions living in Warwickshire as part of Warwickshire County Council’s Creative Health Warwickshire programme.
Steve was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in 2008. He would frequently find himself breathless doing everyday activities and then in panic mode when he felt he couldn’t breathe. His condition was already life limiting, however, when he contracted Covid-19, the damage to his lungs worsened and the fear of not being able to breathe became overwhelming.
In July 2021, Breathe’s Project Manager Mary Stones got in touch to ask if he would like to join Breathe Sing, a 10-week online singing programme. Steve was keen to try anything that might help his condition.
When he joined the first session on Zoom, he was slightly apprehensive. He was in a band once upon a time but, in Steve’s own words, “they weren’t very good” and he saved his singing for the shower. However, Steve thought, “if you’re going to do it, do it,” and he was quickly reaping the benefits of the programme (and hasn’t stopped singing since)!