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Healthy Lungs for Life recently marked 10 years since its launch at the ERS Congress 2014 in Munich, Germany.
In that time, the campaign has made a huge impact for respiratory health through a range of activities, events and projects held across the world. Healthy Lungs for Life activities raise vital awareness of the importance of lung health and the ways in which we can not only maintain healthy lungs, but prevent illness altogether.
The campaign also consistently demonstrates the ways in which direct public engagement can build support for policy change that benefits respiratory health on local, national and international levels.
Joining us for the ERS Congress 2025 in Amsterdam? Get involved with Healthy Lungs for Life activities at this year’s event to see how you could improve respiratory health in your local area by engaging your community.
From 10:00–18:00 CEST on Sunday 28 September, members of the public and ERS Congress 2025 attendees will be able to take part in free spirometry testing outside the RAI Amsterdam conference centre.
ERS encourages congress delegates to visit the public spirometry testing event and observe the ways that direct community engagement helps to build public support for policy change. The Healthy Lungs for Life activities at the ERS Congress will also aim to improve understanding of the importance of lung health among the general public.
Take the Active Option at Congress returns at 07:00 CEST on 30 September.
This year, it will take place in Amsterdam's scenic Beatrixpark; as many as 500 people took part in the 2.5km walk/5km run in Vienna's Prater in 2024.
Registration includes your own runner number and recorded time, plus breakfast and bag storage. Register soon to avoid missing out!
As an ERS Congress 2025 delegate, one of the best ways you can get involved in Healthy Lungs for Life is by visiting the campaign's stand in the World Village from 27–30 September.
Here, you can discuss how to get involved in the campaign and its schools programme, how to share the campaign among your networks, and how you could even access funding to arrange your own Healthy Lungs for Life event in your community.
'Primary prevention for healthy lungs' is part of the ERS Congress 2025's Wednesday special programme.
Innovative prevention programmes like Healthy Lungs for Life and outreach initiatives in Amsterdam will be discussed, along with EU projects targeting lung disease prevention and addressing the impact of tobacco and vaping on public health. Learn more on our dedicated 'Wednesday special programme' page.
Listen to the latest episode of the Lung Health Matters podcast to learn more about the Healthy Lungs for Life campaign. Host Prof. Monika Gappa (ERS Past President) is joined by Dr Mariëlle Pijnenburg (ERS Congress 2025 Chair) and Ed Powell (Chair of the European Lung Foundation Youth Group).
The panel discusses early life impacts on lung health; building health messaging in young people; the HLfL campaign in schools; and, ahead of this year's ERS Congress in Amsterdam, the HLfL campaign's activities in the congress host city.
Listen to the episode