Today, September 26 marks the 10th annual Day of mesothelioma awareness. It is a perfect time to revisit how the defense, education, support and generosity have improved the lives of so many people affected by this rare cancer.
The mesothelioma community ?? s persistent hard to bring visibility to this disease has a significant impact. There are barely 30 years, the treatment options are limited and the researchers did not have the funds to make progress as patients desperately needed.
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that forms on the wall of the chest, abdomen or heart. About 3,000 cases are diagnosed each year in the United States. Exposure to asbestos is the only cause confirmed, which means that the disease is completely preventable.
Fundraising, donations and other advocacy efforts now support the funding of clinical trials and research that lead to better treatment and longer life expectancy. Consequently, patients today are getting impressive long-term survival and emerging therapies offer hope for the future.
Because mesothelioma does not garner the same publicity as the most common diseases, such as breast, prostate and lung cancers, much more awareness and funding is needed.
as researchers work diligently toward healing, our best weapon against cancer is prevention through education. Without awareness and fundraising, research and salaries remain stagnant.
Advocacy wins federal research funding
The advocacy efforts of many individuals and organizations have not only made a difference in the fight against mesothelioma, but they have also shown taking powerful incidence of mesothelioma awareness can have on this day and throughout the year.
government funding is nonexistent when some of the leading experts ?? s today in the treatment of mesothelioma were just starting in the field.
Fortunately, this is the case.
Dr. V. Courtney Broaddus, professor of medicine and associate director of the Lung Biology Center at the Cancer Center Hellen Diller complete family, and colleagues have been innovating in 03 with monoclonal antibodies, a promising new immunotherapy for mesothelioma.
When the funding ran dry project, a grant made donations to the mesothelioma community helped to continue their research. This injection of funds has led his team to the identification of more than a dozen specific immune cells (antibodies) that can be the key to new targeted therapies with fewer serious side effects.
In 06, Broaddus joined the mesothelioma community in Washington, DC, to fight against the financing of mesothelioma and a national ban on asbestos. The following year, these efforts helped convince Congress to provide dedicated funding to mesothelioma for the first time in history ?? opening the door for future progress.
The US Department of Defense (DOD) in 08 awarded the first Broaddus federal mesothelioma research funding, which contributed $ 1.36 million for his research. Other leading experts mesothelioma, as Dr. Harvey Pass and Dr. Lee Krug, have followed suit and won other grants DOD, including a grant of $ 3 million in 2010.
miles ROD ?? for Meso
One of the most difficult challenges facing Missy Dorsey Bowles never lost his father, Richard O. Dorsey, mesothelioma in 08. But instead of admitting defeat, she chosen to work tirelessly to raise awareness and funding, hoping to help other families forever changed by mesothelioma.
in honor of his father, Missy coordinated Miles ROD ?? for Meso in 2010. The community event raised nearly $ 15,000 for research on mesothelioma with a 5km walk, a gospel of love singing, silent auction and other fundraising activities.
the success of the event and the massive support convinced Missy to benefit an annual event. The fourth delivery ROD ?? for Meso took place September 20, 2014, and raised over $ 25,000 for research. Overall, Missy event raised about $ 100,000 for research on mesothelioma to date.
Kayak 4 Meso
Mark Wells held the kayak 4 inaugural event Meso in 2011 to raise awareness on behalf of his daughter, Linda, who was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in age 16. Wells and two fans paddled 16 miles down the Hudson river ?? a five-hour hike in the name of mesothelioma awareness.
Although the annual event had humble beginnings, it has gained rapidly growing. The second event gathered 130 kayakers paddled against sometimes 30 mph wind gusts. The event attracted coverage of local radio and television stations and has raised over $ 12,000 for research into mesothelioma.
Nearly 100 kayakers gathered for the third Kayak 4 Meso, which generated $ 10,000. Wells led the fourth event September 6, 2014, with the support of more than 80 kayakers. Six mesothelioma survivors attended this year, including three who joined Wells in water.
Local 14 Annual Golf Outing mesothelioma
mesothelioma awareness day may not be in its 10th year, but some groups have been supporting the cause for much longer.
for example, insulators and asbestos workers in the local 14 holds its 20th Annual Golf Outing mesothelioma today. Local 14 members and union members from around the Philadelphia area will continue the tradition, which implies a shotgun scramble golf tournament, lunch, dinner and prizes.
Registration for the event ?? s this year is $ 225 per golfer, with all proceeds going to the Fox Chase Cancer Center. So far, the event has raised more than $ 2 million for research to improve the treatment of mesothelioma.
Miles for Meso
The sixth annual Miles for Meso event, which brings together patients, family members and advocates to advance research and care for patients with mesothelioma, will be held on September 27 in Alton, Illinois.
the inaugural event in 09 attracted 550 participants who joined the 5K and raised more than $ 50,000. Different locations across the country hosted the annual event, contributing a total of more than $ 0,000 for research to date.
This year's event continues the tradition with a 5K race and 2K walk / run to benefit the Awareness Organization to asbestos-related diseases ( ADAO). Singer-songwriter Jordan Zevon, a spokesman ADAO and son of the legendary rock musician Warren Zevon, who lost his fight for mesothelioma in 03, will perform at the event.
Do your part to raise awareness
There are several ways you can make a difference in the fight against mesothelioma. Every little bit helps, whether you ?? re part in a fundraising event, donations to improve research, showing support or simply sending a tweet
A few ways you can raise awareness of asbestos this year :.
- donation to charities that benefit the research of mesothelioma.
- Attending a fundraising event mesothelioma, or coordinating your own.
- Contact your local government and state and urging them to officially recognize Mesothelioma Awareness Day.
- statistics and sharing facts about mesothelioma on social media, or this video infographic on awareness of mesothelioma.
Thanks to the dedication of advocacy groups, physicians, researchers, and people like you, the mesothelioma community continue the fight to find a cure for the disease.
There ?? s more ground to cover, so we ?? s to make progress.
