Overview
- The Strictly Come Dancing head judge described watching her mother, Audrey Rich, choke and struggle for breath as “really quite scary.”
- Rich, 88, was diagnosed with COPD in 2022, which Ballas called debilitating and progressive, noting it will not get better.
- Ballas said her mother lives with her and that they limit outings to once a week to reduce health risks and manage symptoms.
- She is partnering with Sanofi’s Breathe Equal campaign to raise awareness and spotlight gaps in care, particularly in deprived areas.
- Ballas plans to speak to MPs to push for better recognition and access to services, echoing NHS guidance that COPD mainly affects older smokers and can worsen with flu.