Fundraising reaches the £20,000 milestone

The campaign to raise funds for a Mesothelioma UK Nurse Specialist in Norfolk or Suffolk reached a milestone this week when the fund exceeded £20,000.

Historic exposure to the banned substance asbestos can cause mesothelioma, a form of cancer which often proves fatal and kills sufferers in a tragically short period from diagnosis.

The Anglia Asbestos Disease Support Group made up of patients, carers, supporters and volunteers alongside Brian Wallis, Ambassador for Mesothelioma UK and representatives of Ashtons Legal, embarked on a fundraising campaign back in 2019 to employ a specialist nurse in either Norfolk or Suffolk. There are currently just two specialist nurses based in the Eastern region – one at the Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge and the other at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford. Not having a mesothelioma nurse in Norfolk or Suffolk means many sufferers living in those areas have a very difficult, and sometimes impossible, journey to get the specialist nursing support they need.

The provision of specialist mesothelioma nurses lies with Mesothelioma UK (a cancer charity specialising in asbestos-related diseases) but funds are understandably hard to come by. These nurses make a big difference to the lives of sufferers. They are experts in all issues related to mesothelioma including prevention, treatments, clinical trials and finances; and work with clinical teams to ensure equitable access to the best treatments in the UK. It costs approximately £60,000 to fund a Mesothelioma UK Nurse Specialist for two days a week, over a two year period. Thereafter, the post is funded by Mesothelioma UK.

Ashtons Legal act for many clients whose historic exposure to asbestos caused irreversible damage to their lungs and ultimately their death. They help clients and their families identify where that exposure took place and under a number of legal acts such as the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers Compensation) Act 1979 and the 2008 Diffuse Mesothelioma Scheme, bring a legal claim for compensation.

To donate towards the Mesothelioma UK Nurse Specialist fund for Norfolk or Suffolk go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/anglia-asbestos-disease-support-group.

Anglia Asbestos Disease Support Group meets monthly on Zoom during the Covid-19 pandemic. Please contact Vicki Clover on 07738 730830 if you would like to join our friendly group.