As part of an initiative to help plug a fundraising gap caused by the pandemic, three members of our team have raised more than £683 for Mesothelioma UK.

Steve Fitzwalter, Les Dodds and Paul Corrin all cycled 19, 46 and a whopping 100 miles respectively to raise much needed funds for Mesothelioma UK.

As a free, specialist service, Mesothelioma UK aims to raise awareness and provide vital support to individuals and families affected by the disease, but is reliant on donations to keep their valuable work going. Mesothelioma UK, along with many other charities, has seen a dramatic decrease in donations since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic which meant that many of their planned fundraising have been unable to go ahead.

Mesothelioma UK provides specialist information, support and education to improve treatment and care for all mesothelioma victims in the UK. The charity also ensures that specialist mesothelioma nursing is available for those who need it, by integrating into NHS front line services.

Tony Hood, the national head of asbestos strategy at Thompsons, said: “Fundraising events provide key income for most, if not all charities, and the pandemic has put pay to these events for charities across the country, including Meso UK.

“I’m proud of our team, not only for the massive effort given to undertake these challenges, but also for the time they took out of their well-deserved weekends to complete the rides.”

Thompsons is one of the leading asbestos solicitors in the UK. It brought about the first successful asbestos disease claim to the House of Lords in 1972 and is also one of a handful of specialist firms in the UK to be a member of the Mesothelioma UK Legal Panel in recognition of its significant expertise in securing mesothelioma compensation.

Paul Corrin during the bike ride
Paul Corrin during the bike ride
Les Dodds about to set off
Les Dodds about to set off
Steve Fitzwalter in his garden before the ride
Steve Fitzwalter in his garden before the ride