TY - JOUR T1 - European Lung Foundation: past, present and future JF - Breathe JO - breathe SP - 161 LP - 163 DO - 10.1183/20734735.001313 VL - 9 IS - 3 AU - Monica Fletcher Y1 - 2013/03/01 UR - http://breathe.ersjournals.com/content/9/3/161.abstract N2 - When commissioned to write this editorial, the Breathe Chief Editor suggested the title “What has the European Lung Foundation (ELF) ever done for you?” To avoid offence, he did go on to explain that it was an opportunity to let the Breathe readership understand how ELF has developed, the integral and important role it now plays in the life and work of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and its members, and our vision for the future. The ERS founded the ELF 12 years ago, with the initial aim of raising money through donations to fund research. This proved difficult for several reasons, not least because people in general prefer to support organisations and projects in their own countries and more closely related to their personal experience. Although fundraising is still a part of what ELF does today, it is certainly not the raison d’être. ELF also began work on the first edition of the Small White Book, which was published in 2003. In a simple tone, accessible style and in multiple languages, the publication ensured that the wider public received key information on lung health. The Small White Book was well received across Europe and really demonstrated to the ERS, the potential that the society had to better communicate with patients, the public and policy makers. Following on from the success of the White Book, the ELF website was developed (www.european-lung-foundation.org), in which the content of the publication was showcased and made available to all. The website was developed in eight different languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Russian and Greek. It was clear that there was a greater need for specific patient information; materials that ERS members could use and direct their patients too. With this realisation, ELF factsheets were developed to give disease- and treatment-specific information. … ER -