Mesothelioma is a terminal chest cancer that develops between 15 and 60 years after exposure to asbestos.
The British Lung Foundation campaigns to raise awareness of mesothelioma and to improve the treatment and care of people who are affected by this cruel cancer. This campaigning culminates each year on Action Mesothelioma Day, which will take place this year on Friday 2nd July.
Action Mesothelioma Day 2010
This year’s Action Mesothelioma Campaign, taking place on 2nd July, is focusing on DIY in the home and aims to raise awareness of the dangers of disturbing asbestos containing materials in a residential environment. Asbestos is not a thing of the past and is still present in many homes today. The British Lung Foundation wants to make people aware of this when carrying out any home improvements themselves. The campaign also seeks to inform people of the responsibilities they have to safely dispose of asbestos even if it is uncovered by a tradesperson contracted to do the DIY.
You can get involved in the campaign by choosing a campaign guide on the right hand side, which will help you to organise an event and raise awareness of the Action Mesothelioma Day.
To find out more information about the campaign or about getting involved please email the Communications team or call 0207 688 5565.For more information about asbestos visit the Health and Safety Executive website.
This year’s Action Mesothelioma Day campaign is kindly being sponsored by Fentons LLP
Video with Craig Phillips
Visit Craig's website - www.craigphillips.co.uk
The launch of the Action Mesothelioma Day Campaign
To mark the first Action Mesothelioma Day in 2006, the British Lung Foundation delivered the Mesothelioma Charter to 10 Downing Street with more than 14,000 signatures. The Charter calls for improved care and treatment for mesothelioma patients, better protection for employees and more funding for research. The British Lung Foundation continues to focus it’s campaigning around the Charter which you can sign by clicking here.
Queen's speech brings mesothelioma campaign success
Since 2006 the British Lung Foundation has been campaigning for coroner's inquiries following a death from mesothelioma to be made more sensitive to the needs of the bereaved.
Due to the link to asbestos, when someone dies from mesothelioma it is required that a coroner launches an inquiry. However, when the death from mesothelioma occurs outside of normal working hours the bereaved can be visited by uniformed police in a marked police car. Many have expressed to the BLF that being questioned in this way, sometimes in the middle of the night, can lead them to feel under suspicion.
We are therefore delighted that the Government has now pledged to pass the Coroners and Justice Bill, which will create a Chief Coroner to enforce national standards and ensure good service for bereaved families.
We would like to thank everyone who supported our campaign on this issue by e-mailing their MP and by signing the petition on 10 Downing Street website.
The BLF will continue to campaign to ensure that the Bill will lead to improvements in the way that mesothelioma inquiries are carried out and we will keep you informed on this progress.
If you would like to read more about our campaigning on this issue then please click here to read our 'Unnatural Death' report.
Click here for details of other British Lung Foundation campaigns.
