A Worcester Family marks Father’s Day on Sunday 20th June, by launching a charity campaign ‘MesoMakes’ to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos. The initiative to support the asbestos cancer charity Mesothelioma UK in the County is being led by Christina Darling, whose father Michael Darling from Kempsey, Worcestershire, died from the industrial disease in February earlier this year after working for the Metal Box.
As the forget-me-not flower is the symbol for Mesothelioma UK, the Darling Family will be selling homemade crafts such as badges, hairbands, bracelets and pictures, with the theme of the flowers in the ‘MesoMakes’ campaign. All money raised will be donated to Mesothelioma UK to help support their work locally, providing an invaluable lifeline to sufferers and carers of this aggressive and preventable cancer.
Christina Darling explains, “We had never even heard of mesothelioma, so it was such a shock when my father was diagnosed with this lung disease, particularly as there is no history of cancer in the family. Having passed away 7 weeks after his diagnosis, we are still learning so much about the devastating effects of mesothelioma lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos”.
“Raising the awareness of both mesothelioma and the charity in the Worcestershire area, is the key driving force of our campaign and fundraising to help families shattered by this horrible disease. Our ‘MesoMakes’ homemade forget-me-not crafts are a positive step forward in starting the conversation about asbestos. Later this year I also hope to give talks in the local area to further help support Mesothelioma UK and work more closely with this charity which is close to my heart.”
“We would also like to urge anyone who thinks they might have been exposed to asbestos and are experiencing any sudden changes in their breathing, to please get it checked out with your GP. As a family we currently have a witness appeal for workers from the Metal Box Perry Wood site to come forward and share with us their knowledge of the use of asbestos or disturbance of asbestos in the premises as part of our claim working with our solicitors Royds Withy King”.
In the UK, over 2,500 per year are diagnosed with mesothelioma and with ‘Action Mesothelioma Day’ (AMD) on Friday 2nd July fast approaching, this charity campaign to mark the recent passing of local man Michael Darling, is very timely. Action Mesothelioma Day (AMD) is a national event to raise awareness of asbestos and mesothelioma, raising vital funds to support the research into tackling mesothelioma and to remember and support those who have been affected by mesothelioma.
For more information about MesoMakes and the charity Mesothelioma UK please contact Christina Darling on 07719 430267 or email [email protected]. If you have any information regarding usage of asbestos at Metal Box as part of the Darling Family’s Witness Appeal, please contact Jemima Ware at Royds Withy King solicitors at [email protected] or call 07570 710544.