Action Mesothelioma Day

On Action Mesothelioma Day 2009 (AMD), asbestos victims' groups and charities throughout the United Kingdom held events and ceremonies to raise awareness of the epidemic of asbestos-related cancer that is killing more than 2,000 people every year.

To mark the 2009 occurrence of AMD, the JHMRF hosted an event on February 27, at the Carriageworks Theatre in central Leeds. The day was judged a great success by the 80+ attendants who included mesothelioma patients, widows, widowers, relatives and friends.

The varied programmed included contributions from a mesothelioma patient, medical personnel, researchers, a Member of Parliament and a global activist.

During the proceedings, a new support group: Mesothelioma and Asbestos Related Concerns (MARC) was launched; MARC will hold regular meetings and events in the local area to enable mesothelioma sufferers to draw strength from others in the same situation.

There was a musical interlude by guitarist Boff Whalley from Armley in Leeds (where June and her mum were exposed to the asbestos dust spewing out of the JW Roberts asbestos textile factory) before the day's activities were brought to a close with the release of several white doves from Millennium Square.

Many people appreciated the practical advice provided by the speakers which included information on pain relief and symptom control as well as some positive news about research into how the body's immune system can be used to fight mesothelioma.

There was general agreement that although the research being conducted by Dr. Zsuzsanna Tabi, the recipient of the JHMRF research grant award in 2007, was very promising, more work was needed. Delegates added their voices to calls being made throughout the country for the establishment of a National Centre for Asbestos-Related Disease Research.

The day's events raised over £1500, all of which will be going to research into mesothelioma.

For Laurie Kazan-Allen's AMD round-up, please see  www.ibasecretariat.org

March 2009

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