Easy breathing. Healthy breathing. Breathing faster to move. Breathing even faster to do sports. Oxygen is 'inspiration', literally but also figuratively. The corona pandemic made it clear that clean air is a must. 'Stay home, but also keep moving', was perhaps one of the most publicised campaigns to promote a healthy lifestyle and regular exercise. Healthy air and a good dose of physical activity as the engine behind a healthy day-to-day life. We rarely question it. 

Yet this is not self-evident for everyone. In Belgium, 1 in 4 children suffers from respiratory problems such as asthma. You must be familiar with it in your own community. Fortunately, nobody dies from it yet in Belgium. In many African countries people do. Every year more people die of respiratory problems than of AIDS-HIV, TB and malaria combined.

Take Kenya, for instance. The country is known for its breathtaking nature reserves, bustling cities, white beaches and high mountains. Apart from its famous distance runners, the country is increasingly gaining prominence for its cyclists. World-class athletes!

But even in Kenya, the most important highways are the airways. The country and its people suffer from ever-increasing air pollution. poor waste management, polluting industries, emissions from old second-hand cars and poorly ventilated kitchens are to blame. Climate change also plays a role. Think of ever-longer droughts and dust, wind gusts and the spontaneous combustion of landfills due to extended periods without rain. 

What?

The RESPIRA consortium led by KU Leuven and involving researchers from across Africa and Europe wants to do something concrete about this. We organize action research involving collaborations between doctors, architects, urban planners, engineers, movement scientists and social scientists. In the city of Nakuru (Kenya), a project is being set up together with a local university, the local meteorological institute, the local government and Nakuru's citizens. Like the popular Curieuzeneuzen project in Flanders, sensors are being developed and distributed. The sensor data will be analyzed using artifical intelligence and will be used to monitor climate change, the sources of pollution, its severity and composition. This will provide the basis for an action plan executed by local project stakeholders to mitigate air pollution and its health impacts. 

How can you support? 

You can support the project by purchasing one of the sensors that will be installed in Nakuru. You can make this possible with a donation of 50 euros. For 100 euros, you facilitate a data scientist who, thanks to the sensor information, can find out how air pollution is impacting well-being in the city. This is the basis for a continued approach in the fight against pollution in the city. For a sum of 200 euros, you invest in the further expansion of RESPIRA with the aim of combating air pollution and sensitising local communities suffering most from its effects. This way, you help give 'Air4Action' and take care of 'Action4Air'.

Belgian Record Attempt

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To breathe life into the project, Jeroen Scheerder, professor at the Department of Movement Sciences at KU Leuven, will take on the ultimate physical challenge. On Saturday 27 April 2024, he wants to break the men’s Belgian 50+ Masters hour record at the Velodrome in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium. To do so, he will not only need a lot of healthy air, but also your support. You can give that support by providing oxygen to future generations in Kenya, both (in)active people and future elite athletes. Do this by sending us financial oxygen via the donation buttons below. 

Starting from a contribution of 40 euros, you will receive a tax certificate giving you a tax benefit equivalent to 45% of your donation.

 

Thank you in advance for your support! Asante Sana!

Target amount: EUR 10,000
Closing date: 30/06/2024

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