Toronto, ON: Gary Roberts, the Leafs’ fearless winger, known for his crushing style of offensive play, has taken on one of his most formidable opponents – asthma - in the same way since the age of three. Being in top physical condition is one of the ways Roberts has been able to get his asthma under control while keeping him in the game, a game that has clearly chosen him as one of its leaders.

The 2002-2003 season has been one of Roberts’ toughest as he endured nine months of painful surgeries - two surgeries - one on each shoulder - and six individual procedures to be exact, plus rehabilitation. His disciplined approach to conditioning and total fitness, originally pursued because he felt he needed to work harder than others to compensate for his severe asthma, was a key factor in getting back his starting line up position. The injuries Roberts sustained would have likely have ended the careers of other players, but for him, it’s a physical challenge he’s used to.

“I’ve always felt I had to work harder than others,” says Roberts. “As a kid, coaches thought I wasn’t working hard enough during my shifts but the truth was, I simply couldn’t breathe.

“When I was 12 I nearly had to take a year off playing because my asthma was really bad. But I started to focus on total health and decided that I would control my asthma before it controlled me. My parents and coaches monitored me closely when I was playing and made sure I was taking my medications as needed.”

Roberts now takes medication twice daily, once in the morning and once at night. As well, his pre-game asthma management protocol includes two puffs of his inhaler, 10 minutes apart. Roberts then begins an active warm up before he hits the ice and his inhaler stays close by on the bench should he need it after a shift.

Cigarette smoke is Roberts’ number one trigger, although cold arenas also give him some trouble from time to time.

“I really feel it when we practice at the Lions’ arena because it is so much colder than Air Canada Centre,” says Roberts. “I’m lucky that most of the NHL arenas I play in are not that cold.”

Climate and environment can often catch people with asthma by surprise and should be a consideration when traveling. When Roberts was traded to the Calgary Flames, the higher altitude and dryer climate played havoc with his asthma.

“When I arrived at Calgary for training camp the first thing we had to do was a two-mile run,” says Roberts. “I was in excellent shape and had been working out all summer so the run should have been easy for me. But when I hit Calgary, I had difficulty breathing and it was tough for me to complete the run. I couldn’t believe it - my new coaches thought I showed up to camp out of shape.”

Good cardiovascular fitness is what Roberts believes has helped him throughout his NHL career, dispelling the myth that kids with asthma shouldn’t exercise or maintain an active lifestyle.

“I would encourage kids with asthma to overcome their limitations by watching what they put into their bodies and by making sure they have a good team around them that can help with managing their asthma medications.”

When you can’t breathe, nothing else matters is the tagline for The Lung Association and one that resonates with Roberts. “There’s just no feeling like it when you’re having an attack and can’t breathe. It’s the worst feeling in the world.”

Asthma is a chronic health disorder affecting children and adults. Asthma episodes (cough, severe shortness of breath, chest tightness and wheeze) usually occur after exposure to allergens (pollens, molds), viral infections (colds), exercise or exposure to irritants such as tobacco smoke. Effective treatment can prevent the onset of asthma and can control symptoms once they occur.

The Lung Association’s Asthma Action Program is designed to help people control their asthma by assisting to identify their symptoms, triggers and understand their medications. More than 10,000 people have called the toll-free Asthma Action Helpline, 1-800-668-7682, and have received a customized information kit from Certified Asthma Educators. Information is also available on The Lung Association’s web site at www.on.lung.ca.

For more information contact: Avril Henry, The Lung Association – 416-864-9911