Lawyers And Representatives Of Irwin Mitchell Attended Key Events Across The UK To Mark Action Mesothelioma Day

Action Mesothelioma Day took place on Friday 5th July 2013 and events and conferences were held across the UK to draw attention to the difficulties facing those suffering with mesothelioma, as well as remembering those who have sadly lost their lives to asbestos related diseases and to develop awareness of the danger of exposure to asbestos.

Lawyers and representatives from national law firm, Irwin Mitchell, attended two key events on Action Mesothelioma Day.

Members of Irwin Mitchell’s Workplace Illness Team, who specialise in recovering compensation for those affected by asbestos disease, attended the annual Action Mesothelioma Day organised by Asbestos Support West Midlands (ASWM) at the Chamber of Birmingham Cities’ Council House.

Whereas in the North West, Geraldine Coombs and Megan Christie, specialist solicitors from Irwin Mitchell’s Asbestos Related Disease Team, joined the crowds who gathered to take part in the day-long event organised by the Merseyside Asbestos Victims Support Group and Cheshire Asbestos Victims Support Group at Liverpool Town Hall.

Birmingham Hosts Emotional Service

In Birmingham, there were presentations from Laurie Kazan Allen, an asbestos campaigner and Mary Hesdorffer, a Nurse Practitioner who has worked with mesothelioma patients in America for 16 years. Touching tributes from The Birmingham Clarion Singers and a heart felt prayer from Reverend Ruth Reynolds were also heard.

This was then followed by a ceremony with the Lord Mayor of Birmingham also in attendance. White doves were released to symbolise the hope for a better future and the memories we have of those who have been affected by asbestos related diseases.

Following the ceremony, everyone had a chance to reflect on the personal impact which asbestos has had on their lives and to share experiences with others. The event was emotional but brought a sense of unity and hope in the campaign against asbestos use.

Tributes And Progress In Liverpool

Liverpool Town Hall, meanwhile, paid tribute to the heavy price in mesothelioma deaths suffered in the Merseyside area. The Lord Mayor of Liverpool and Steve Rotheram, MP for Liverpool Walton, were among those present during a tribute to all those who have died from mesothelioma as sponsored doves were released by children from Great Crosby Catholic Primary School outside the Town Hall.

The latest medical advances for mesothelioma were explained to the audience by Dr Daniel Sterman, Pulmonary Specialist, who had travelled from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School to speak at the mesothelioma seminar at the House of Commons the same week.

Dr Sterman talked to the large crowd about the devastating effects of exposure to asbestos on the residents of Philadelphia and the pioneering work he and his colleagues are doing to find better treatments and, one day, a cure for mesothelioma.

He described the cutting edge work he is involved in with research into treatment for mesothelioma patients.  He was full of hope that the discoveries and progress being made in understanding the disease would give mesothelioma patients better medical options in the future. 

Raising Awareness Of Mesothelioma

Dr Sterman also said there had been really important developments in the research in recent times. One development was a blood test for diagnosis of mesothelioma. Another was being able to identify the people who were genetically more susceptible to mesothelioma which may lead to preventative treatments being given before the disease develops.

Dr Chris Warburton, Consultant Respiratory Physician from Aintree Chest Centre and Kay Kennedy, Lung Cancer Nurse Specialist at Arrowe Park Hospital also gave a talk about treatment and support for mesothelioma sufferers in the Merseyside region.

John Flanagan of the Merseyside support group closed the event with a rally for everyone present to join the campaign for improvements to the mesothelioma bill going through parliament at the moment. He spoke passionately about the rights of mesothelioma sufferers and their families to receive full compensation and the importance of safeguarding access to justice through the courts.

Action Mesothelioma Day was vital in terms of helping raise awareness of the disease and the dangers of exposure to asbestos. Irwin Mitchell’s specialist Workplace Illness and Asbestos Related Disease teams have achieved successful compensation claims for many clients who suffer with mesothelioma.

Our expert mesothelioma claims team will provide you with free initial advice on your compensation claim if you or a loved on has been diagnosed with mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure. See our Asbestos-Related Disease Claims Guide for more information.