GMAVSG: Action Mesothelioma Day

Action Mesothelioma Day (AMD)

Action Mesothelioma Day is held on the first Friday in July each year.
This annual event was inaugurated by the British Lung Foundation and supporting organizations in 2006 to raise awareness of mesothelioma and to promote an Action Mesothelioma Charter which can be found on this link. Each year, events are organized by asbestos victims support groups in cities throughout the UK. A report of our event in Manchester is below.

Action Mesothelioma Day Manchester 2nd July 2010
Releasing doves in memory of all those who have died from mesothelioma

Greater Manchester Asbestos Victims Support Group Action Mesothelioma DayEvent
The event started with about 200 hundred people gathering in Albert Square to release doves in memory of all those who have died from mesothelioma

Three MPs spoke at the Dove release: Tony Lloyd MP Manchester Central; Simon Danczuk MP, Rochdale; Jim Dobbin MP. Heywood & Middleton. Lorraine Creech, lead cancer nurse for mesothelioma,also spoke at the Dove release, as did Debbie Brewer, who suffers from mesothelioma.

At the public meeting in the Town Hall over 150 people attended to hear Dr. Helen Clayson speak about palliative care and Lorraine Ryan from Southern Ireland speak about the death of her husband Shay from mesothelioma caused by exposure to asbestos from an asbestos factory in Athay and the need for official acknowledgement of the disastrous legacy left by the asbestos factory.

Unfortunately, Hermione Hennessy, a singer and song writer whose father, Christie Hennessy, also a singer and song writer who died from mesothelioma, was unable to speak due to illness.

Press
AMD in Manchester was covered by the Manchester Evening News with photographs and write - up the link is below.

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1281334_hundreds_pay_tribute_to_asbestos_victims

Manchester Radio covered the event with interviews with one of our speakers Dr. Helen Clayson and with a mesothelioma sufferer, John Hardman.