On Action Mesothelioma Day (Action Meso Day) today, 1 July, 100 buildings and landmarks around the country will light up blue for the #GoBlueForMeso campaign.
Action Meso Day is an annual event on 1 July to raise awareness of the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma and the dangers of asbestos. The UK has the world’s highest incidence of mesothelioma with more than 2,700 people diagnosed each year.
Organised by the UK Mesothelioma Alliance (UKMA), #GoBlueForMeso is the 2022 theme for its ActionMeso campaign which aims to alert the public to the dangers of asbestos when it’s not managed properly, the devasting effect that mesothelioma has on people’s lives and the indiscriminate way that people are affected.
In April 2022, a Work and Pensions Select Committee report recommended that the Government must commit to a strategy to remove all asbestos from public and commercial buildings within 40 years – a decision welcomed by the UKMA.
ActionMeso supporters, including support groups and charities have had a remarkable response from local buildings and landmarks that will show their support by lighting up blue tonight.
Support groups and asbestos/mesothelioma charities will also be hosting their own activities and events today to raise awareness and funds.
Lynne Squibb, founder of asbestos support group and charity HASAG and ActionMeso campaign chair, said: “Because asbestos is now banned in this country, many people have no idea that it’s still within the fabric of many buildings especially schools and hospitals, and that it poses a real threat.
“We’ve been blown away by the fantastic response to the #GoBlueForMeso campaign and we can’t wait to see the landmarks up and down the country lit up blue to raise awareness.
“Mesothelioma is an incurable, yet preventable, cancer that affects so many families. We want everyone to understand the dangers of asbestos and the devastating impact of mesothelioma, which can develop decades after exposure to asbestos.”
Statistics show that 94 per cent of mesothelioma cases in the UK are caused by workplace exposures and are preventable. Through campaigns such as #GoBlueForMeso and by promoting its Mesothelioma Patient Charter, the UKMA’s ActionMeso campaign wants to see employers, healthcare providers and politicians take the action needed to prevent the disease and ensure more families do not suffer.
More information can be found on the website www.actionmeso.org/goblue and Twitter @actionmeso
ENDS
About ActionMeso
ActionMeso, a campaign of the UK Mesothelioma Alliance, is a collaboration between key asbestos charities, support groups and healthcare professionals with the aim of raising awareness of mesothelioma and asbestos dangers amongst the general UK public.
For more information on ActionMeso, visit www.actionmeso.org The Mesothelioma Patient Charter can be found at https://ukmesoalliance.org/projects/mesothelioma-patient-charter/
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