Joe Wallace worked in the Sunderland shipping yards for most of his life. When he left in the eighties he never looked back until the past came back to haunt him.
In 2005 he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos many years before. Joe passed away within a year of being diagnosed with the disease, leaving behind his wife Babs and his four sons. His youngest son Paul (pictured) decided to set up a Breath of Life fund with the aim of raising £90,000 in his father’s name.
Paul has already participated in several sponsored runs including the Great North Run and the Liverpool half marathon. He has also organized his own fundraising events, including a sponsored five-aside football tournament, where 30 Scots took on 30 Englishmen. Since then Paul has also organized parties, tambolas and raffles. The football tournament was such a success that he plans to make it an annual event and also plans to organize a ball for his father’s old colleagues at the shipyard, to raise awareness of mesothelioma, which is common amongst shipyard workers.
‘I have already lost my dad but if I can help someone else in any way, I will, and that is my motivation.’
So far Paul has raised over £5000 for his father’s Breath of Life fund and thanks to his dedication the figure is constantly rising.
There are many other ways to donate to a fund, aside from organising events or running marathons. If you do decide to set up a Breath of Life Fund then we can help you to support the fund in the way that is most appropriate for you. Some people like to give a gift on special anniversaries or regularly every month and other people choose to set up a regular payment by direct debit or take part in a sponsored event.
