Asbestos Activist to Raise Mesothelioma Awareness by Cycling 1,200 Miles

An asbestos campaigner in Great Britain is preparing for a 1,200 mile bicycle journey in hopes of raising awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure.

Jason Addy, an activist with the organization Save Spodden Valley, hopes to raise money to be donated to  the search for a cure for asbestos-related cancers.  Addy will be joined by two friends and plans to cycle through parts of the country that have been greatly impacted by asbestos-related cancers such as mesothelioma.

The journey will begin in the town of Glasgow on June 20, 2009 and will  conclude in Southampton on July 4. Addy says he cannot wait for the lengthy trip to begin.

“It will be tough going as we will be cycling up to 100 miles a day, but it is for a very important cause and promises to be a breathtaking journey to raise awareness of the legacy caused by asbestos,” Addy said.

Asbestos is a toxic mineral and was widely  used throughout the 20th century in various products and industries.  Although it is a naturally occurring substance, exposure to asbestos can be extremely dangerous.  Inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers can result in the development of serious illnesses, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and other forms of lung cancer.

Since  mesothelioma symptoms are similar to less serious ailments, a mesothelioma diagnosis can be very difficult. In many cases, treatment is limited and prognosis is poor.

The high amount of mesothelioma cases in Great Britain has lead to many community projects created to promote awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure. Save Spodden Valley campaigners recently held a private meeting with Prime Minister Gordon Brown to discuss ways to educate the public and provide more funding for asbestos-related research.

Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases remain at the top of all occupational illnesses in the United Kingdom, yet little research funding is dedicated to battle these preventable cancers.

Additional information about asbestos exposure and mesothelioma and may be found through the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

This entry was posted on Friday, May 29th, 2009 at 1:48 pm and is filed under Asbestos Exposure, Jobsite Exposure, Mesothelioma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Responses are currently closed, but you trackback from your own site.