Enda Lavery, solicitor at MTB Solicitors, announced the association’s support for the local health charity at the BSA AGM in October, where he was elected as chair.

Speaking after meeting with Stephanie Ellis, corporate fundraiser at NICHS, Mr Lavery said: “NICHS is a local health charity, leading the fight against chest, heart and stroke illnesses. Its aim is to support those living with these life changing conditions and prevent others from becoming ill.

“The shocking reality is that every day across Northern Ireland 17 people will have a heart attack, a further 11 people will suffer a stroke and over 160,000 people are living with respiratory conditions. These conditions have a huge physical, emotional, mental and social impact on the individual and their family.

“NICHS offers a range of support and guidance services to help people both directly after they have been affected by an illness, as well as through longer term rehab and self-management programmes as they learn to live with a long term health condition.”