It is more commonly known as emphysema or chronic bronchitis.

On Wednesday, members of LungNet Southern Highlands got together for a walk around Lake Alexandra for COPD Day; in its eighth year, the 2009 theme was breathless not helpless.

The walkers included Raema Betts a double lung transplant recipient and Alison Craigie who suffers from bronchiestatis.

Years ago Mrs Craigie would walk five or six kilometres a day, then one day she could only get to the bottom of her street and that was when she knew something was wrong.

Mrs Craigie said the bottom of her lungs was destroyed.

“Day to day, some days are good, humidity is no good,” she said.

“The other night when we had the storm it got very humid. I walked outside to the garage to get something from the freezer and back in again and I was pooped.

“It is very disabling. Sometimes you can’t think because your body gets short of oxygen, and that affects your brain.”

Mrs Craigie completed the lap around the lake but had to sit down to catch her breath, her hands turned a tinge of blue because of a lack of oxygen.

Mild exercise is good for COPD sufferers, as well as plenty of rest and proper nutrition.

Another walker Mrs Betts was given a new lease on life when she received a double lung transplant more than five years ago.

“Before, I would be gasping, now it is just the good, healthy puffed,” Mrs Betts said.

“Before the transplant it was really frustrating..

“I could only walk a few yards and I was puffed and really gasping.”

An avid tenpin bowler, Mrs Betts can now bowl six games, up from the one or two she could usually complete.

She is thankful to her organ donor and their family for giving her back a life.

Mrs Betts said it was like a gift.

Goulburn MP Pru Goward addressed the walkers and said that without good lung function the brain doesn’t work and then the body doesn’t work.

“I know that the state government is underspending in chronic disease management.

“It puts all its resources into acute care and I guess we would all say that is where the priority has to be.

“But if you don’t recognise the importance of chronic disease and insuring people with chronic illnesses are kept well then they all end up eventually in the acute system.

“It is a great deal more expense for the system and a great deal more trauma for the individual and the individual’s families.”

With a cut of a ribbon in near perfect weather, Ms Goward started a field of 40 walkers on their way around the lake.