Action Mesothelioma Day - Friday 7th July 2017

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30 Jun 2017

Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by breathing in asbestos dust. It does not develop straight after the harmful exposure. Mesothelioma is often diagnosed 10 to 50 years after the initial exposure. In some cases, it can even take longer than that. There is no cure for this asbestos cancer and most people sadly lose their lives within 9 months to 2 years of diagnosis.

Asbestos was used extensively in the UK, in a wide range of industries and in lots of different ways throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Asbestos was not banned in the UK until 1999. Blue and brown asbestos, often considered the most dangerous types, were banned in 1985 and white asbestos, which is not considered as toxic but nevertheless can cause mesothelioma, was banned much later in 1999. It is often said that asbestos is a problem of the past. It is not. It can still be found in homes, work places and in schools throughout the UK.

Despite almost 2600 people dying from mesothelioma cancer in 2014, research to find a cure or to improve outlook for sufferers is seriously underfunded compared to other cancers even though 1 in 5 work related deaths are caused by mesothelioma.

Since the first Action Mesothelioma Day on 27 February 2006 the aim of all those organising, supporting and attending this national event has been to raise awareness amongst the public, government and media about mesothelioma, preventing asbestos exposure, the care and treatment options of mesothelioma sufferers and the need to fund mesothelioma research with the hope of finding a cure, better treatment options and a better outlook for sufferers.

This year's Action Mesothelioma Day will take place on Friday 7th July 2017 with events up and down the country, except for Portsmouth where the event took place on Friday 30th June.

Hundreds of people will gather in locations across the UK. At some events doves will be released in remembrance of those who have lost their lives to mesothelioma. At other events, there will be opportunities to hear about the work being done to prevent exposure, to improve the delivery of treatment and the research currently being carried out to find a cure and better treatment options for mesothelioma sufferers.

Our Asbestos Solicitors will be supporting Action Mesothelioma Day by attending selected events around the country.

Here are some of the events that are taking place:

• Berkshire - Berkshire Asbestos Support Group: Friday 7 July at 10.30am, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Reading, RG1 8BD. Speeches, morning coffee and cakes followed by a dove release. Please contact Kat Sarson on 0800 844 0720 or enquiries@berkshireasbestossupport.org if you would like to attend or for more information.

• Bury St Edmunds - Anglia Asbestos Disease Support Group and Mesothelioma UK: Sunday 2nd July at 10am. A Service of Reflection and Hope at St. Edmundsbury Cathedral. There will be a symbolic Dove Release in the Cathedral gardens at 12 noon, accompanied by verses of remembrance. Guest speakers will also offer words of hope and guidance. Refreshments will be available in the Cathedral Refectory after the service. Strawberries and cream will be served to our guests.

• Cardiff - Asbestos Awareness and Support Cymru: Friday 7th July at 2pm. AASCwill be holding a dove release, presentations and afternoon tea in Cardiff, in support of Action Mesothelioma Day 2017. For more information about this event, email enquiries@a-a-s-c.org or call 01495 272479.

• Cambridgeshire - Papworth Mesothelioma Social Group: Friday 7th July at 1pm ,Hemingford Abbots Village Hall, Hemingford Abbots, Cambs, PE28 9AH. A meeting of the group to celebrate the lives of those we love and those we have lost over the past years, and also to look forward to the future. Strawberry tea will be followed by the release of doves. Please contact Kate Slaven on 01480 830541 x4889 or kateslaven@nhs.net for more information.

• Kent - Mesothelioma UK: Friday 7th July 11.30am - 4.15pm. A Dove release in the presence of the Deputy Mayor of Medway will take place at 12 noon  at Royal Dockyard Church, Chatham Dockyard, Chatham, Kent ME4 4ST followed by a Public Meeting to discuss Asbestos Victim Support, Patient Care and Treatment, The National Centre for Mesothelioma Research, Asbestos in Schools and Asbestos Legal Issues, Refreshments will be available For more information please email Alan Mckenna at A.V.Mckenna@kent.ac.uk. Speakers will include: Professor Anne Bowcock - Imperial College, Jeremy Horton - Brachers, Dr Helen McGee - Hospice in the Weald, John Reeves - Kent National Union of Teachers, A message from Mavis and Ray Nye, Asbestos and Mesothelioma campaigners.
   

• Leeds - June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund and Mesothelioma UK: Friday 7th July at 10am. The June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund and Mesothelioma UK invites you to “Meet the Researchers”. This FREE event will enable Mesothelioma patients, their families and health and social care professionals working in the field to meet researchers investigating cures and treatments for the disease. The day will have an informal, round table style, allowing attendees the opportunity to hear about research topics first hand and to ask questions. There will be poster displays of research and related topics. Healthcare professionals who treat people with mesothelioma and solicitors, and other legal experts, who deal with mesothelioma cases, will also be present. Local support groups and professionals from clinical and legal backgrounds will also be on hand to talk to people and provide information and advice. Experts will include representatives from research projects currently supported by the June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund. Since its inception in 1997, the JHMRF has strived to build a comprehensive portfolio of research studies. The Fund has supported projects that span the whole spectrum of research stages from early experiments with new compounds to a Phase 2 clinical trial comparing treatment with an anti-cancer vaccine to standard chemotherapy. Most recently, donations to the Fund have supported a clinical trial at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre to investigate the role of radiotherapy in symptom control in mesothelioma. Contact Dr Kate Hill, research@junehancockfund.org, Telephone 0113 343 0864. 

• Leicester - Mesothelioma UK: Friday 7th July at 2pm, Leicester Cathedral, Peacock Lane, Leicester, LE1 5DE. A Service of Reflection and Hope will be followed by a symbolic Dove release and refreshments will be served in the cathedral. Paper doves are available for your messages to hang on the tree of remembrance and will also be available on the day.

• London - London Asbestos Support Awareness Group: Friday 7th July 10am. We are starting the day at 10am on Friday 7 July 2017 with a memorial service in The Guy’s Chapel, King’s College London SE1 1XY (Nearest tube station: London Bridge) moving out to the Millenium Courtyard at 11am where there will be a dove release. From there, we invite those attending to join us in the Gary Weston Library from 11.15am – 4.00pm where a number of speakers from both the UK and USA will address the audience and explain their roles with mesothelioma sufferers. Lunch will be served from 1pm – 2pm.

• Manchester -Greater Manchester Asbestos Victims Support Group - Friday 7th July 12.30pm  - Sackville Gardens, Sackville Street, Manchester M1 3WA. Release of sponsored doves followed by public meeting (1pm-2pm) hosted by Professor Sir Anthony Newman-Taylor, Chair of the National Mesothelioma Research Centre at the Mechanics Institute, 103 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 6DD. For more information, call 0161 636 7555, email asbestos.gmavsg@gmail.com or visit www.asbestos-victims-support.org

• Merseyside - Merseyside Asbestos Victim Support Group: Friday 7th July 11am, Hargreaves Building, Chapel Street, Liverpool. Public meeting with guest speaker, Dr Chris Warburton 11.15am followed by a sponsored dove release at 12 noon at Exchange Flags (to the rear of Liverpool Town Hall), assisted by local school children. Return to Hargreaves Building for lunch and guest speakers including Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor, Maria Guerin LCN, Speaker from Imperial College London on mesothelioma research and Jeff Morgan, retired Occupational Physician. There will be a number of stalls, information stands and raffles throughout the afternoon. For more information, call 0151 236 1895, email info@asbestosdiseases.org.uk or visit www.mavsg.org

• Newcastle - Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund and Paul Redhead Asbestos Support Group Friday 7th July at10am. Public meeting at Walkerville Community Centre, Pinewood Gardens, Newcastle NE6 4SZ followed by dove release at 12.25. Chris.Knighton@mkmrf.org.uk

• Plymouth - Southwest Mesothelioma Support: Friday 7th July at 10am, Fennamore Room, Saltram House, Saltram, Plymouth. A Devon Cream Tea, dove release and remembrance service at the mesothelioma tree will take place.

• Scotland - Clydeside Action on Asbestos: Friday 7th July at 12pm, Provand's Lordship, St Nicholas Garden. The memorial is being held on Friday 7th July to mark “Action mesothelioma day”. The memorial will start at 12 noon at the Provands Lordships gardens and lunch will be served afterwards in St Mungo’s museum.

• Sheffield -  South Yorkshire Asbestos Victims Support Group (SARAG): Friday 7th July at 11am, Sheffield Cathedral, Church Street, Sheffield, S1 1HA. Guests and invited speakers include Sheffield Lord Mayor, Helena Stanley, Mesothelioma Lung Cancer Nurse Specialist, MPs, Trade Union leaders, and June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund. The event will start in Cathedral Square to read out all the names of those killed by mesothelioma, asbestos cancers and diseases in South Yorkshire & North Nottinghamshire, followed by speakers, buffet lunch and refreshments in the Domino Hall at the Cathedral. We hope to conclude with a candle lighting remembrance and performance by Sheffield Socialist Choir. All donations for this event will go to mesothelioma research. For further details please contact SARAG on 01709 360 672.

• Swindon: Friday 7th July at 11am, Mesothelioma Memorial Garden, Queen’s Park, Swindon (close to Drove Road entrance). Dove release and memorial tree ceremony to honour those whose lives have been affected by mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. Followed by complimentary tea and cakes at the park café.

If you would to find out if there is an event taking place near you or need more information about an event then you can:

• Contact Fozia Hussain by email at foziahussain@thealp.co.uk or call on 01422 728822
• Check the information on Mesothelioma UK's website http://www.mesothelioma.uk.com/news-and-events/news-2017/action-mesothelioma-day-2017/ This is likely to be updated with new events as time goes on.