Marissa Olson - educating her peers about the struggles of asthma

Imagine struggling just to be able to breath. Now imagine a life where that is a constant worry. For people with asthma, like Eagle Grove eighth grader Marissa Olson, this is their reality. But that doesn’t mean they have to sit on the sidelines and watch as others participate in an active lifestyle. Instead, Marissa has chosen to work with her doctor and family to become educated, learning about carrying an inhaler, physical fitness, and more. She’s even taken a passion to educating those around her, not just about asthma and other lung issues that can make it difficult to breath, but about what they can do to help - like donating to the American Lung Association’s Fight For Air Climb. This will be Marissa’s sixth year participating in the Climb, but her first year speaking about it to her peers and teachers at Aaron Eilerts Day on Friday, Feb. 24. The public is invited to listen to her speak in the Robert Blue Middle School auditorium at approximately 2:45 p.m.

“No one should struggle to breath. That’s is why I am climbing in the Fight For Air Climb,” Marissa said on her web page she has set up for her climbing group, named Marissa’s Monkeys.

Last year, Marissa’s group of 27 climbed, raising nearly $5,000. Marissa herself was excited that she was able to climb all four buildings’ worth of stairs.