Asbestos Related Illness, Mesothelioma
A woman from Hartlepool is hoping to raise thousands of pounds for research into the devastating asbestos related disease, mesothelioma which killed her dad.
Carole Orton, is holding a fundraising event to raise cash for the National Macmillan Mesothelioma Resource Centre.
Her dad, Harry Gray, died in November 2002, aged 68, after a six-month battle against mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs caused by exposure to asbestos.
The granddad of 15 became ill after being exposed to asbestos fibres throughout his working life as a lagger.
He first started the work at 14 and worked as a contractor lagging power stations and ships with asbestos.
No known cure for mesothelioma
There is no known cure for mesothelioma and now Carole hopes to raise at least £2,000 to contribute towards much needed medical research into the disease.
She said: “There is no cure for mesothelioma and my dad did not receive any treatment to try to extend his life.
“We want to make people aware of this disease and to raise money for research to see if the experts can come up with a magic solution.
“Any new treatment will not bring my dad back, but it will help friends of the family who are suffering from mesothelioma caused by where they worked.”
Ian McFall, head of the asbestos team at Thompson Solicitors, is supporting the fundraising event.
He said: “Scores of men in the Teesside area are diagnosed with mesothelioma every year and the number can only increase due to the large number of shipyard employees who worked with asbestos. It is important, research is carried out to find the most effective way to treat mesothelioma patients.”
The charity gala night will be held on Tuesday, September 5 2006, at Hartlepool Workingman’s Club, starting at 7pm. Tickets are £3.
Asbestos disease diagnosis? Talk to us for advice and support on how to secure compensation.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, we can support you with advice on how to make a claim.
The process will be explained in plain English and with no obligation – our priority is to provide you with the best, expert advice on whether you have a valid case for compensation, and to signpost you to further sources of support.
There are strict time limits applied to making a claim – usually three years from the date of diagnosis. It doesn’t matter if the exposure to asbestos took place – as it often does – decades ago, the three year time limit applies to the date of knowledge of diagnosis or date of death.
For further information, visit our How to Make A Compensation Claim page.