Charlie Dimmock opens up about Illness in her family—and why it stuck with her

Charlie Dimmock is best known for transforming outdoor spaces on TV, but one of the most personal things she’s spoken about has nothing to do with patios or planting plans. In a message shared for the launch of the George Coller Memorial Fund, Dimmock explained that asthma has affected people close to her—and that “first-hand experience” is what made her want to support efforts to raise awareness and improve care.

In her statement, Dimmock said she was “delighted” to help the charity launch because she had seen the impact of asthma “within my family.”

She then shared a specific example: her cousin, Joanna, who had asthma “since she was a toddler.” Dimmock described how everyday childhood joys could turn into triggers—mentioning animals like kittens, dogs, and horses as things her cousin loved, but often couldn’t be around without it affecting her breathing.

That detail matters because it shows the reality of asthma in a way that’s easy to picture: it’s not always dramatic in the moment, but it can quietly shape what someone can safely do, where they can go, and how relaxed they feel in normal situations.

Dimmock also emphasized how quickly things can go in the wrong direction when asthma isn’t identified and treated. She noted that her cousin was diagnosed straight away and learned to live with it, but she contrasted that with children who aren’t as fortunate—arguing that asthma can be deadly if it’s missed.

That’s essentially the core of her message: awareness isn’t just “nice to have.” It can be the difference between manageable symptoms and a frightening emergency.

Asthma is a long-term condition that affects breathing. Common symptoms include wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness—and symptoms can come and go, sometimes getting worse at night or early morning.

Triggers vary from person to person, but can include exercise, cold air, air pollution, and allergens such as pollen, dust, mould, or animals—exactly the kind of real-life exposures Dimmock was describing in her cousin’s story.

And while asthma is complicated (there isn’t one single cause), UK public health guidance notes that allergic conditions, including asthma, can run in families.

Asthma is extremely common in the UK—Asthma + Lung UK puts it at around 7.2 million people, roughly 8 in every 100.
Globally, the World Health Organization describes asthma as a significant chronic respiratory disease and highlights the need for better education and access to treatment to prevent serious attacks.