Recommended Charities

As a relatively rare disease, mesothelioma does not receive the kind of attention that other cancers do. Unfortunately, a lack of awareness can mean a lack of funding for research to help find a cure. And mesothelioma has no known cure. There are, however, various charities that include mesothelioma among the cancers they help fight.

Many of these charities help raise awareness, which is vital for mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, a mineral still being used in everyday products around the world. Many of these charities provide services for patients with other types of cancer, too.

Donations keep these charities in business, allowing them to operate and support cancer patients. Here are some of the top cancer charities that are involved in helping people diagnosed with mesothelioma and involved in finding better treatments or a cure for the disease.

Air Charity Network

http://aircharitynetwork.org

The Air Charity Network is an aviation service that matches people in need with free flights and travel arrangements to specialized health-care facilities. The organization is a collaboration of seven regional services that cover all 50 states. There also is a Mercy Medical Airlift that coordinates free airline tickets for commercial service that covers more than 600 miles. Passengers must have a financial need and a medical diagnosis that requires treatment at a specialized hospital. And they must be medically stable and able to fly in an unpressurized plane. Pilots generally donate their time and the entire expense of each mission they fly.

American Cancer Society

http://www.cancer.org

The American Cancer Society is a community-based, national organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health issue. With millions of supporters, the ACS is helping people stay well and working toward finding cures for all cancers. It is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, but has more than 900 local offices nationwide. Through grass-roots advocacy and high level politics, the ACS works to rally communities and pass laws that can reduce cancer risks. It also helps fund ground-breaking cancer research and pushes for educational efforts to help the cause.

Cancer Fund of America

http://www.cfoa.org

The Cancer Fund of America comes to the assistance of thousands of victims. It helps hospices, cancer patients and non-profit healthcare providers by sending products directly to them for free. Its goal is to help relieve the financial burden upon the families of people with cancer, providing aid for both the needy and the ill.

Cancer Prevention Institute of California

http://www.cpic.org

The mission is in the name. The Cancer Prevention Institute of California wants to eliminate cancer as much as possible. The CPIC helps to explore the causes, identifying intervention that can stop cancer before it starts. It investigates ethnic and racial disparities and monitors the incidence among the general public. It works to educate the public, making sure that everyone has access to the advances that are being made in regard to treatment and survivorship options.

Caring Bridge

http://www.caringbridge.org/

Caring Bridge provides a free website to connect those experiencing a serious health issue with family and friends, often making an emotional journey a little easier to navigate. It is run by donors that include authors and website builders from around the country. Easy to navigate, visitors can leave messages, updates and photos. Each day, an estimated 500,000 people are connected through the service. It also includes free online support if any problems arise.

Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation

http://www.curemeso.org/

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation is a non-profit group dedicated to finding a cure for mesothelioma. It raises awareness of the disease and advocates for a private/public teamwork approach toward that goal. Founded in 2004, it has awarded research $7.1 million in grants. The organization of researchers, physicians, advocates, patients and family members hosts the annual International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma, a comprehensive mesothelioma weekend in the Washington, D.C., area.

Lungevity Foundation

www.lungevity.org

The Lungevity Foundation has a vision: No one ever dies from lung cancer. It goal is finding a cure to the disease, but that will take more time and more money for continued research. The foundation is dedicated to funding lung cancer research. It also focuses on improving lung cancer survival rates, ensuring a higher quality of life for those already suffering from lung cancer and educating others on ways to reduce the risk of developing the disease.

Supportive Care Coalition

www.supportivecarecoalition.org

The Supportive Care Coalition focuses on improving palliative care, addressing spiritual, emotional and physical needs. Pain and symptom management is of the utmost importance. The Coalition is a nationwide effort of 20 Catholic health organizations, all with similar goals. It advocates bringing cultural changes in the care of those with chronic and life-threatening illnesses.

To help raise awareness of mesothelioma and the dangers of asbestos, request a free awareness wristband from the Mesothelioma Center.