Amazing Kids! is proud to highlight the Amazing Kids! of the Month!

Each month, we showcase kids who are accomplishing amazing things.  We hope that by telling their special stories, we will inspire other kids to accomplish their own amazing achievements. 

Amazing Rachael Lambin, age 14,
Founder of Kids Helping Kids With Asthma

"I started Kids Helping Kids with Asthma in May 2002, along with my brother John-Henry.  We both have asthma, mine is "exercised induced" and his is "severe". While we were in school, they was never enough information about asthma and what triggered it. We decided that kids and families needed to learn more about it, so that it can be controlled with the proper medication and education."

Do you or anyone you know have asthma?  If so, you'll want to read all about our October Amazing Kid! of the Month, 14 year old Rachael Lambin of Nevada.  Because of her own   experiences living with asthma, Rachael founded Kids Helping Kids With Asthma, a project that helps teach kids about asthma.  With over 6 million children with asthma in the U.S. today, Rachael is doing a great service helping to make others more aware.

Read Rachael's story below and who knows?  Perhaps you may get inspired to join her in her efforts to teach people in your community about asthma!

And don't forget, if you, or a young person (or persons!) you know, has an amazing project you are involved in, or a special skill, talent or ability you want to tell the world about, be sure to let Amazing Kids! know about it!  Teachers are invited to nominate their entire classroom and the amazing projects they are working on too!  Simply complete a nomination form for an Amazing Kid! of the Month award, or email us! 

Table of Contents 

Amazing Rachael Lambin
In Her Own Words
Related Links

Imagine gasping for breath – you can’t get enough air into your lungs, and you need to be rushed to the hospital – scared!  And when you are back home, you just can’t do all the activities that other kids your age participate in.  This is a scenario that happens all too often with children who suffer from asthma, a chronic respiratory disease that is often triggered by allergies and leaves kids gasping for breath. 

Two and a half years ago, 14 year old Rachael Lambin of Gardnerville, Nevada, started a project called "Kids Helping Kids with Asthma" (KHKWA).  At the time, it was a way for her to understand why it's often difficult for her to do things like other kids can do, without grasping for a breath and to teach her younger brother John-Henry about it too.  Like Rachael, John-Henry has asthma; though Rachael's is exercised induced and John-Henry's is severe.

Rachael felt KHKWA was needed to teach others in her community about asthma.  Too many kids in school were ill often, and people didn't understand why.  Because there was not enough information about asthma, instead of letting kids go to the nurse 30 minutes before physical exercise, kids just went and did their activities.  As a result, they ended up collapsing and often getting rushed to the hospital  

Rachael and her project go out and teach asthma education and awareness to the community.  Every summer, she puts on asthma day camps for kids called "Camp Easy Breezy" and brings in respiratory therapists, to help meet the kids’ needs.  They do crafts, games, eat allergy free breakfasts and lunches!  Everyone has a lot of fun!

Rachael has even started an asthma /allergy support group that focuses on youth to teens and according to her mother Debbie Lambin, Rachael is planning on having her own tv show (with her brothers) that will focus on her project, as well as her brothers' projects (including an upcoming project her brother John-Henry is planning which will focus on dyslexia education.)

Rachael is also very involved with the American Lung Association as a youth ambassador, helping them with presentations for TATU (Teens Against Tobacco Usage) and assisting them in orchestrating their "Blow the Whistle on Asthma" walks, raising over $50,000 for asthma education in the schools!

Rachael took her activism all the way to Washinton D.C, where she was asked to appear on the floor of the House of Representatives to help discuss the bill HR2023, that will allow kids to carry lifesaving medications on themselves. As a result, she found herself appearing on tv, on C-Span with Congresswomen Janita Melinder Mcdonald (D-CA)!

Rachael has written a book for her project, Clouds:  If You Can See What I Breathe, and plans to donate all the proceeds to help benefit kids and asthma.

As Rachael’s mother Mrs. Debbie Lambin says:  “Rachael is an incredible young lady on a mission to continue letting others know of this serious problem...”

Here are just some of the many amazing activities Rachael and "Kids Helping Kids With Asthma" are involved in:

Camp Easy Breezy - 2003, 2004 summer day camp for kids ages 4-16.  Held at Carson City, home of Nevada's state capital.  They will we holding a Camp Easy Breezy Mini Camp (Gardnerville, NV), October 9th 9am-2pm

"Clouds: If You Can See What I Breathe", a book written and illustrated with drawings and photographs by Rachael Lambin.

TATU (Teens Against Tobacco Use) and KHK have teamed up to put together several presentations about the importance of not smoking.

Smoke Free Nevada - KHK is teaming up with the ACS, ALA, AHA to pass legislation to make all public eateries non smoking.

State Capital Blow the Whistle on Asthma - KHK is working on putting together their first walk-a-thon campaign in the Carson City / Carson Valley area to raise funding for asthma education in schools and events.

If you'd like to learn more, or get involved, visit the Kids Helping Kids With Asthma website at: www.KidsHelpingKids-R.us or email Rachael at:  rachael@KidsHelpingKids-R.us

 
"I started Kids Helping Kids with Asthma in May 2002, along with my brother John-Henry.  We both have asthma, mine is "exercised induced" and his is "severe". While we were in school, they was never enough information about asthma and what triggered it. We decided that kids and families needed to learn more about it, so that it can be controlled with the proper medication and education."

Rachael, wearing the Prudential Spirit of Community Award medal,
with her two amazing brothers, in Washington D.C.

Here's a list of some of Rachael's many honors and awards:

• 2004 Build A Bear Huggable Hero Award (Rachael is featured in the 2004 Huggable Heroes calendar and she and her amazing brothers will be part of the 2005 Huggable Heroes Calendar too!)
  
• Prudential Spirit of the Community Middle School Award Winner for Nevada
• Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce, community service award for her work with asthma awareness. (05/04)
• Douglas County 4H Outstanding Service to the Community Award
• Scholastic Silver Key Award for her sculpture "Lady Serenity" Shado Box (exhibited at Nevada Museum of Art, Reno)
  
• Angel Soft "Angels in Action" award
• Finalist for Nevada Governor's "Point of Light" Award
• Girl Scout Silver Award
• Youth Venturer
• Start Something
• VFW award
  

Back to Table of Contents

RELATED LINKS:

Kids Helping Kids With Asthma website:  www.kidshelpingkids-r.us

American Lung Association (national website): http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=22542

TATU (Teens Against Tobacco Use):  www.lungs.org/content.asp?id=3.2