Keith Munday is a true Asthma Hero
Fallon Munday always thought of her asthma as mild, as it didn’t affect her life that much.
But in November 2015, Fallon lost her life to asthma, just days before her 21st birthday.
Casually sitting at home watching TV with her little sister Chloe, Fallon started to feel her chest tightening, as if she was struggling to breathe.
She told Chloe, who called for an ambulance and then called their parents, Keith and Leonie, who were driving back from Augusta, to let them know that their eldest daughter was having an asthma attack.
It all happened so quick and sadly Fallon passed away that day in their Byford family home.
Like many young Australians with asthma, Fallon Munday underestimated the severity of her respiratory disease. Living the typical university student life, she was on a tight budget and unfortunately made the choice between a new birthday dress and her asthma medication. Diagnosed in her early teens, she had never experienced severe asthma and with no previous warning signs, didn’t know the consequences of this decision.
“We did harp on to (Fallon) go and get a preventative and we’d say to her, ‘make sure you’ve got a puffer in your handbag, in your car and at your friends’ houses’ but she often didn’t buy them.” – Fallon’s Dad, Keith Munday
In her strength and legacy, Keith Munday, Fallon’s father, created a fundraising event called the Augusta Asthma Adventure. Relying on his vibrant, late daughters’ memory, Keith walked almost 300km’s from Byford to Augusta. Along the way, Keith stopped at 12 different pubs for a pint and to share his story, bringing communities together in Fallon’s name and raising money and awareness for Asthma WA.
The adventure began on the 30th of April 2016 at the Byford Tavern, with an event full of games and prizes, supported by family and friends, which raised over $1,700.
Bright and early the next morning, Keith set off walking his first 34km to the Stud Country Tavern, North Dandalup. Next was Pinjarra, Waroona, Harvey and Brunswick, and a Half Way Quiz Night in Bunbury.
The next night in Capel was full of karaoke and the joys of cracking the $10,000 goal. With a new spring in his step, Keith set off the next day to Busselton, then Cowaramup, Margaret River and Karridale where he caught up on some well-deserved sleep before the big finale!
On Friday the 12th of May, Keith, his good mate Shaye and his family and friends all walked the final stretch from Karridale to Augusta. Nearly 300km’s completed in just 12 days and raising over $30,000.
By sharing his family’s story, Keith has also raised the awareness of the severity of asthma and the importance of having an up to date Asthma Action Plan and taking prevention medication as prescribed.
Since that first event, Keith has continued to fundraise for Asthma WA every year, creating Fallon’s Fund in memory of his beautiful daughter, which helps support families undergoing economic hardship who can’t afford their medication.
Thank you, Keith and all of your supporters, for shining a light on the seriousness of asthma.
“It is what it is. It was what it was.” Keith Munday