“I am delighted to become patron of Breathe On UK. This is an important charity devoted to the support of patients and families suffering from long term ventilation problems.

I know how much the care and support of one’s family is important when a health crisis strikes. It is at this time you need to be able to make contact with other families who are going through similar circumstances to gain support and knowledge of how to handle situations.

Whilst many children are kept in hospital initially, it is the families who care for sufferers at home that find their lives, home and life plans all having to be reassessed. 24 hour care takes its toll on everyone and the need for special hospice beds and the ability to go on holiday or just gain advice on how to find equipment is a major part of the rationale behind the Breathe On projects.

I ask you to give generously both financially and with your personal support to this extremely worthwhile charity, because without their existence life for many people will be even more challenging”.

Stephen Fry has donated his time to promote Breathe On - his voice is used on the DVD - asks people to “Imagine a child who, for life, cannot breathe without the artificial support of a ventilator attached to a tube in the throat. Imagine the pressures, hopes, emotions and sometimes desperation that can overwhelm their families. Such families merit support, understanding, information. In particular they need to know that in all their adversity they are not alone: others care and are working to help”.

Click play to hear a personal message from Stephen Fry

Seeing your child lying in a hospital bed unable to breathe for themselves is the worst feeling any parent will ever experience - Breathe On provides an invaluable source of information and support at what can be a terrifying and confusing time.