After a fatal asthma attack claimed the life of their 10 year old daughter, Claudia Rose Allen Bogan, on May 17, 2008, Katie and Eddie Bogan, along with their families, felt the need to make sure Claudia’s short life was remembered and celebrated.  In August of 2008 the Bogan's, lifelong residents of Charles County, created the “Claudia Rose Asthma Foundation”, a non-profit organization aimed at raising funds in Claudia’s name to be donated to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).

The AAFA (www.aafa.org) non-profit organization was founded in 1953.  It is the largest and oldest patient advocacy organization in the world for people with asthma, food allergies and related allergic diseases.  It provides practical information, community based services and support through a national network of chapters and support groups.  AAFA conducts health education and advocacy efforts, and funds research to find better treatments and cures.  The AAFA describes asthma as a disease of the lungs in which the airways become blocked or narrowed causing breathing difficulty.  This chronic disease affects 20 million Americans, including 5 million school age children. 

Asthma is the number one reason for chronic absenteeism in schools and accounts for one quarter of all emergency room visits in the U.S.  Asthma is commonly divided into two types: allergic (extrinsic) asthma and non-allergic (intrinsic) asthma.  There is still much research that needs to be done to fully understand how to prevent, treat and cure asthma.  Allergies are diseases of the immune system that cause an overreaction to substances called "allergens."  Allergies are grouped by the kind of trigger, time of year they appear, or where symptoms appear on the body.  They include indoor and outdoor allergies, food and drug allergies, and latex, insect, skin, or eye allergies. People who have asthma and allergies can live healthy and active lives.

Claudia’s family plans to fulfill her dreams of finding a cure for asthma by  hosting charity events, including live musical concerts and an annual run/walk. On May 16^th at the Hampshire Neighborhood association there will be our first annual walk/ run. All funds raised will be donated to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America to help aid in allergy and asthma education and to sponsor allergy and asthma research programs aimed at finding a cure.