Country Singer Promotes Asthma Camps

Photo: Sally Aristei

Bakersfield country boy Rick Reno Stevens had been singing most of his life. But it wasn't until the country singer's daughter suffered a serious asthma attack that put her in the hospital for 10 days that Stevens decided he needed to use his singing for a worthy cause.

"That's when I realized asthma can be really serious, life-threatening," he says. "For a while there, we didn't know if Brianne was going to make it."

The 10-year-old's health did recover and she is doing great. But the experience left Stevens feeling like he should do something for other families who are struggling with asthma.

"The American Lung Association's asthma camps offer so much for these children and their families," he says. "The kids learn important information about asthma and they have a great time."

Between recording in Nashville and performing around the country last summer, Stevens visited lung association asthma camps, where he played the guitar and sang for the children. Stevens says he wants to find more ways to help the American Lung Association promote asthma camps nationwide.

"Children with asthma and their families need to know about these wonderful asthma camps," Stevens says. "Advertising is just too expensive. So I talk about asthma and the camps wherever I go."