Action Mesothelioma Day event to raise awareness of asbestos-related cancer in Wales
Action Mesothelioma Day (Action Meso Day, Friday 2nd July, 2021), an annual event to raise awareness of mesothelioma and the dangers of asbestos, will this year be a virtual event hosted by broadcaster, academic, and mesothelioma patient, Kate Williams.
The UK has the world’s highest incidence of mesothelioma, a type of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, with around 100 people in Wales diagnosed each year.
Hosted by the UK Mesothelioma Alliance (UKMA) as part of its ActionMeso campaign, the national event will be held from 12.30pm to 1.30pm. A panel discussion including Sarah Morgan, Mesothelioma UK Clinical Nurse Specialist for Wales, will discuss clinical trials and research into the disease. ActionMeso supporters, including support groups and charities in Wales, will be hosting their own activities before or after the main event.
Patients, family members, friends, carers, local dignitaries, healthcare professionals, asbestos removal companies, law firms and anyone interested in mesothelioma and the dangers of asbestos are invited to join the event.
Registration is free at www.actionmeso.org/amd21 and the hashtag #ActionMeso will be used on social media platforms.
Kate Williams, broadcaster, academic, mesothelioma patient and host for the national event, said: “I was honoured to be asked to host Action Meso Day 2021. As a peritoneal mesothelioma patient myself, I am all too aware of the importance of raising awareness of the disease and the dangers of asbestos.
“This is a chance to hear from people directly affected by this cancer and along with other patients, I will be sharing my story. We’ll also be learning about the latest in treatment and care from healthcare professionals. Events like this and the #ActionMeso campaign are vital if we are to see companies and the government take action and prevent other families being affected by this disease,” she continued.
Welsh charity Asbestos Awareness and Support Cymru (AASC) is supporting the campaign and Manager, Lorna Johns commented: “It is so important that we continue to raise awareness about how exposure to asbestos fibres can endanger our health. So many in Wales have worked with asbestos and have gone on to develop the cancer that is mesothelioma. Take time on Action Meso Day this year to reflect on those that are no longer with us and pledge to join us in taking action against mesothelioma to ensure a healthier outlook for the workers of Wales and improved care and treatment.”
Statistics show that 94 per cent of mesothelioma cases in the UK are caused by workplace exposures and are preventable. ActionMeso is campaigning to promote the Mesothelioma Patient Charter to employers, healthcare providers and politicians in all the nations of the United Kingdom, which sets out the action needed to prevent this disease and ensure more families do not suffer.
About ActionMeso
ActionMeso is a campaign of the UK Mesothelioma Alliance and driven by a working group including representatives from Action on Asbestos, Asbestos Awareness & Support Cymru, Asbestos Victims Support Groups Forum UK, British Thoracic Oncology Group, Erase Meso, Glynnis Gale Foundation, HASAG Asbestos Disease Support , Mavis Nye Foundation, and Mesothelioma UK. For more information on ActionMeso, visit www.actionmeso.org