21 October 2008: airAlert-4-schools competition winners colour the air!

Media PR 1066

The Sussex–wide airAlert service, a free air quality alert service for people with respiratory conditions, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2008 airAlert-4-schools colouring and caption competition.

The competition was designed to raise the awareness of children with asthma who can receive the free airAlert service via their schools or direct via their parents or guardians. The competition was open to all school children in Sussex Junior and Reception schools at the end of the last school year (2007/08).  During the summer holidays we were privileged to have wildlife painter and conservationist David Shepherd (OBE) and cartoonist Ron McGill judge the children’s entries. The lucky winners are to receive £50.00 worth of local bike shop vouchers, with runners-up to receive airAlert boomerangs and certificates.

Winners and runners-up were selected from a variety of schools across the counties, including; Pells CofE Primary School and Wallands Community Primary School (Lewes), St. Nicholas and St Mary CofE First and Middle School (Shoreham), Central CofE Junior School (Chichester), Michael Aryes Junior School (Bognor Regis) and Sacred Heart Catholic School (Hastings).  A full list of winners and schools can to found at the airAlert website (http://www.airalert.info/).

A presentation to winners from the Pells School in Lewes is to be made at the school assembly on the 22nd October. Prizes and certificates will be given out by Cllr Eddie Collict  attended by Ron McGill and Nigel Jenkins (airAlert). In addition the Lewes Town Football Club Manager, Kevin Keehan and several players will also be present. The cycle voucher was part sponsored by CMCS Cycles in Lewes.  Other winners will be sent or presented prizes via their schools by the end of this term.

The airAlert service sends messages to mobile or home telephones and via email at times when poor air quality is predicted. The service is designed to inform vulnerable people of a pollution episode the day before it is expected, so as to help them make informed choices about managing their respiratory health.

The service is run by the Sussex Air Quality Partnership (Sussex –air), which is made up of members from East and West Sussex local authorities, including Lewes District Council and from the Sussex Primary Care Trusts, the Health Protection Agency, the Environment Agency and the Sussex Universities (Brighton and Sussex). The partnership also has close ties with King’s College London (Environment Research Group) and Environmental Protection UK.

Anyone with asthma or any other respiratory complaint can register for free on-line at http://www.airalert.info/ or by post by returning a free-post response form in the airAlert leaflets that can be requested.

For more information please contact Nigel Jenkins, Sussex Air Quality Partnership project officer on 01273 484331 or email nigel.jenkins@lewes.gov.uk