A FAMILY from Stocksfield is launching a charity to support the “remarkable” NHS team which has boosted their son’s quality of life.

Sharon and Mark Hodge’s son Jake, who turned 23 yesterday, has chronic respiratory failure type 2, and quadriplegic cerebral palsy.

He has difficulties breathing and has relied on a non-invasive ventilator to help him breathe through the night and normalise his levels of CO2 for the past 18 months.

Although Jake cannot communicate verbally and relies on a wheelchair to get around, Sharon said he has a “massively good quality of life” because of how the Home Ventilation Service, based in the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, has helped him by providing the NIV.

In response to the support, Sharon has decided to set up the charity Every Breath, to support the Home Ventilation Service by raising money for vital equipment.

“Jake is well known to intensive care and HDU (high dependency unit) and equipment is so expensive,” she explained.

“The team are remarkable and I know that if people needed an NIV like Jake the team would get it for them, but I also know that as time goes on charities are becoming a great asset to the NHS and are helping to further the work that it does.

“To give you an idea of how expensive the equipment is, the mask Jake uses is over £100 and the NIV is somewhere in the region of between £13,000 and £14,000. I realise that what we can raise is a drop in the ocean opposed to being able to buy 10 ventilators, but even if we could raise money for some masks it would help. It also just helps us recognise the fantastic work they do.”

Sharon said the NIV will not work for everyone with a chronic lung condition, and each patient would be assessed by the Home Ventilation Service individually - but for Jake the system has been vital.

“Jake has taken to it like a duck to water.

“He is now safer, he’s not tired anymore, he’s not groggy and he just generally enjoys getting out and about,” she added.

The ventilators have also been used for those with conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and sleep apnea.

Sharon, along with charity trustees Linda Garner, a retired nurse from Hexham Priory School, and Paula Winter, a second year Northumbria University student studying learning disabilities nursing, have planned the charity launch event for Sunday.

Local residents, businesses and supporters of the charity are invited to Stocksfield Cricket Club from 2pm where the launch will be opened by Miss Northumberland, Tara Tordoff, and include music from country rock band Outlander, along with fund-raising activities for all the family to get involved in.

Sharon is encouraging any businesses who would like to get involved to contact her on: 01661 842981.