A 13-year old tennis fan and British Lung Foundation supporter played a role in this year’s epic Men’s Single’s Final at Wimbledon on Sunday 6th July. Blair Manns, 13, from Gloucester, performed the coin toss to decide whether Switzerland’s Roger Federer or Spain’s Raphael Nadal served first. He and his family then enjoyed ringside seats to watch Nadal win the title.
Blair Manns, 13, from Gloucester, developed the lung condition Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BDP) as a result of prolonged ventilation at birth and was on home oxygen for the first 18 months of his life. He and his family have supported the British Lung Foundation since the charity helped them during the difficult years following Blair’s birth.
The British Lung Foundation is the only UK charity working for everyone affected by lung disease. The charity focuses its resources on providing support for people affected by lung disease today; and works in a variety of ways (including funding world-class research) to bring about positive change, to improve treatment, care and support for people affected by lung disease in the future.
Blair said: "It was a really cool day! I was a bit nervous before the coin toss but the players were really nice – I even shook their hands. Wimbledon gave me a poster signed by Federer and Nadal and I even got to keep the coin which I’m going to frame and put up in my room. We got to sit right where the players came out on to the court and after the match I was given a goodie bag with a special t-shirt and cap."
For more information please contact Casey Purkiss on 020 7688 5565 or Katherine Huntly on 020 7688 5588 Out of hours: 07976 227 076
