Daniel Graham, National Jewish Health Team Up to Take Charge of Asthma

Daniel Graham, tight end for the Denver Broncos, is teaming up with National Jewish Health to help children in the Denver Public Schools better control their asthma and miss fewer days of school.

 "Most asthma can be managed, and by educating and bringing awareness to youth and their parents, asthma does not have to stop children from leading a normal life," said Mr. Graham, who has asthma. "It hasn't stopped me."

On Monday, April 13, The Denver Public Schools Asthma Program and the Daniel Graham Foundation will kick-off their "Take Charge of Asthma" community partnership which will host a series of asthma education programs designed to draw more participants to the program.  Graham will be the special guest speaker for this event.  Stanley Szefler, MD, National Jewish Health, Director of the DPS Asthma Program, and Donna Shock, DPS Nursing, will also speak.

"Daniel Graham serves as a tremendous role model to show kids that asthma does not need to hold them back," said Dr. Szefler.  "We are thrilled to partner with the Daniel Graham Foundation to help parents and children manage their asthma."

More than 5,000 children in Denver Public Schools suffer from asthma.  Many DPS children know they have asthma, but there are also many children who have asthma and have not been diagnosed.  The DPS Asthma Program works with children, parents and schools to diagnose, educate and manage asthma.  Studies show that proper asthma management can reduce the number of days children miss school.  

Monday's kick-off event will set the stage for a series of Asthma Nights at DPS schools.  At the three Asthma Nights in April, students, parents and school staff will receive asthma education and information on the DPS Asthma program from Dr. Szefler and Graham.  The Asthma Nights will be held at 6:00 pm April 16^th at Farrell B. Howell Elementary School, April 23^rd at CEC Middle School, and April 30^th at Denver East High School.  The events will culminate on May 30 with a "Be Daniel Graham For a Day" event on the East High School football field.

Mr. Graham grew up attending Denver Public Schools: Samuels Elementary, Hamilton Middle School, and High School at Thomas Jefferson. He also attended the University of Colorado and was drafted in the first round in 2002 by New England Patriots. Daniel signed with the Denver Broncos in 2006, He has shared the same compassion as his mother to give back to the community in which he grew up and now works and lives. In 2006 Mr. Graham and Marilyn Graham, Executive Director, created the Daniel Graham Foundation serving  families in the Denver metropolitan area by sponsoring events throughout the year that give area youth opportunities to discover their inner strength and values through health, education and community services.