AN ENGAGED couple who go by the alter-egos of Miss Rugby and Mr Coventry have joined a nationwide effort to raise awareness of cystic fibrosis.
Natalie Nason and Tom Bradshaw, both finalists in the 2015 Mr and Miss England contest, have joined a growing social media trend by taking a straw-breathing challenge.
Natalie and husband-to-be Tom are the first engaged couple to appear in the finals of Mr and Miss England and are the first couple to undertake the “breathe with me” challenge.
The challenge is used by cystic fibrosis campaigners to demonstrate the experience of breathing with cystic fibrosis. Participants have to try breathing through a narrow straw for 60 seconds with a pinched nose, then take a selfie performing this action and post it online with a comment about how breathing in such a restricted way made them feel.
Gymnastics coach Natalie, 21, who scooped the Miss Rugby title back in January, posted her “strawfie” saying: “I could breathe for about 30 seconds and then started to struggle.”
Tom added: “I felt like I’d lost a lung, it became very difficult to breathe through the straw. People need to do this experiment – it makes you realise how lucky you are.”
The money raised by supporters will help the Cystic Fibrosis Trust investing in research and provide support for people with CF and those around them.
Visit www.facebook.com/strawfiechallenge to follow the campaign. People can also donate £3 by texting BWCF64 to 70070.
After the Mr and Mrs England competitions took place on August 13 and 14 respectively, Tom finished in the top five, also scooping the Mr Popularity award. Natalie placed highly in the sports round and the charity round.
