We’re proud to be sponsoring part of Mesothelioma UK’s national memorial to honour those in the military who’ve been affected by exposure to asbestos.
A touching memorial
The ‘Mesothelioma UK – Supporting our Armed Forces’ project is fundraising for the memorial which will be placed at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire and is part of their ongoing work to recognise the impact of mesothelioma and asbestos in our armed forces.
The memorial to veterans is a unique concept, depicting the building blocks of life, engraved with vital awareness information about mesothelioma, asbestos and our Armed Forces.
Anne Moylan, Mesothelioma UK specialist nurse at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, and lead nurse for the project said: “We want the families and friends of those affected to be able to visit a dedicated memorial and pay their respects or celebrate a key milestone. Our target is to raise £40,000, and we are grateful to everyone who has donated so far. We are over half way towards our target and we’re looking forward to inviting everyone to the unveiling when the memorial is in place.”
Adrian Budgen, head of asbestos-related-disease claims commented: “We’re delighted to be able to support the memorial which honours those affected by asbestos during their Military career at a time when they should have been protected from exposure. We’re looking forward to the unveiling and paying our respects in recognition of the sacrifice Armed Forces personnel have made.”
A study into asbestos in the Military
Before December 2015, it wasn’t possible for military veterans who’d been exposed to asbestos during their military service, and who subsequently went on to develop an asbestos-related-disease such as mesothelioma, to pursue a claim for compensation for their illness due to Crown immunity.
However, following lobbying of the Government by groups such as the Forum of Asbestos Victims Support Groups and the Royal British Legion, the policy was changed so serving and ex-military personnel were able to access a lump sum, war pension, and other benefits such as Attendance Allowance or a Blue Badge.
Asbestos was widely used across many military platforms and latest figures show that eight veterans per month are claiming benefits following a diagnosis of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma UK, a charity supporting mesothelioma patients and their families, has recently funded the MiMES study, which looks into the experiences and needs of veterans being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
The charity has a long history of supporting veterans through their diagnosis and treatment, recognising that the needs of former service personnel are different to those of civilians. The charity has recently won the HSJ Military and Civilian Health Partnership Award for their work with veterans.
Support and memorial fundraising
For anyone who’s been affected by an asbestos-related-disease, Mesothelioma UK offers a dedicated helpline and support service. If you feel you need support, you can contact Lisa Booth, the dedicated Armed Forces Benefits Advisor who also works for HASAG, a support group for people diagnosed with asbestos related conditions. Lisa has a close relationship with Veterans UK, who support veterans claiming compensation.
You can make a donation to the memorial fund or dedicate a block to a loved one.
For general enquiries
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