Singer's charity quest

LAST YEAR Dewsbury Moor man Christopher

Johnson was diagnosed with a rare lung disorder.

Having had heart problems from the age of seven,

including a heart attack at 38, doctors told Chris he had a

rare form of pulmonary hypertension that only affects two

in every million people.

But the father-of-three is not going to let the condition

stop him enjoying life.

Chris, 42, a former pupil at St John Fisher Catholic High

School, wants to organise and star in a series of concerts

to raise money for the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA).

He believes it is important to give something back to the people that have helped him.

“The difficulty with this condition is that because it is so rare,

no one really knows exactly what you are going through.

“They have supported me a lot since being diagnosed and without them I may not have been here

today.” Chris and his wife Janine are keen to hear from anyone with a suitable venue to hold the

concerts – and they can then leave all the organising to him.

Chris loves to perform and has been singing in pubs and clubs for a number of years.

He hopes to take up the microphone again, singing hits from his music idols such as Elvis, Neil

Diamond, Buddy Holly and Lionel Ritchie.

Concert-goers can expect a good mix of songs that will also some include modern tracks.

“The concerts will have something for everyone and all proceeds will go to the PHA, to enable them

to research into the condition and continue supporting those affected.”

In 1998, Chris held an Elvis tribute concert in aid of the coronary care unit at Dewsbury and District

hospital. Chris, who worked in roof glazing at Standard Patent Glazing, Dewsbury, before

becoming a self-employed handyman, had to give up work when he was diagnosed.

Various types of medication and therapies are available to Chris to help stabilise his condition.

He said: “It’s time consuming taking all the medication but doing so allows me to get out and about

and spend time with my family and friends.”

Symptoms that the condition causes include breathlessness on exertion, dizziness, chest pain and fatigue.

Alongside daily medication, Chris visits the specialist pulmonary hypertension unit at the Royal

Hallamshire hospital, Sheffield, for check-ups about once every three months. The unit is one of

only eight specialist centres in the UK.

Chris said he would like to thank Dr David Kiley and the specialist nurses and staff there for their

continued support. He said the team was always there to offer advice and help.

“The staff at the hospital ring me up every week or so to check everything is ok, it’s reassuring to

know they are only a phone call away.”

The plans for the charity concert coincide with pulmonary hypertension awareness week this month.

Anyone who can offer Chris a venue for his concerts or would like more information should email him at chriskingonline@hotmail.co.uk