MAVSG: Copyright © 2007
All rights reserved.
Registered Charity Number: 1033724
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1024x768 pixels
MAVSG: Copyright © 2007
All rights reserved.
Registered Charity Number: 1033724
Design Screen Resolution:
1024x768 pixels
Over 100 people attended the successful fundraising event and had a wonderful night which included a question and answer session with the footballing legends. Raffle prizes included a tour of Liverpool Football Club and tickets for Tranmere Rovers Game on the 31st October. Mesothelioma victim Francis Innelli helped with the raffle draw.
Left to Right, Ian Snodin, Francis Innelli, Ian St John and David Innelli (Son of Francis)
On the last day in Parliament before the summer recess, Jack Straw, Justice Minister, said he 'wished to give further consideration to the issue of compensation', until after the recess. This is the fourth time a promised decision has failed to materialise and has led to disapppointment and dismay. It is hoped that the recess will provide the opportunity to agree the demands of asbestos victims for a return to compensation.
On a more positive note, Jack Straw indicated that the government is actively considering measures to establish the UK as a leader of asbestos-related disease research and gave a committment to examine the failure to trace insurance records. Asbestos victims support groups have welcomed these announcments. (Press Release)
The Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Mike Storey was sending off an asbestos awareness team of cyclists riding from Glasgow to Southampton on their Liverpool to Manchester leg of the journey on Friday 26 June 2009 from the Pier Head, Liverpool at 8:30 am.
The 1200 mile journey started last Monday and is due to arrive in Southampton on 4 July with the aim to visit victims of asbestos's 'cruel lottery' and towns across the UK that has been touched by the deadly material.
The trio will be cycling though regions of the country whose communities have been most blighted by the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma.
John Flanagan, Training and Information Officer for the Merseyside Asbestos Victims Support Group said "We are delighted to welcome the campaigners and will be giving them a send off they deserve accompanied by the Lord Mayor and our victims" he added "given the history of ship building and heavy industry on Merseyside we are seeing the predicted increase particularly in mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung and the least researched one of the top 20 cancers in the UK."
"We have asked the government for funding and received positive feed back, however no allocation has yet been made, we hope this iniitiative will tip the balance when the government Ministers consider the issue".
Katrina London one of the riders said
"The main aim is to show the terrible impact asbestos has upon the victims of mesothelioma, to raise funds for research into asbestos-related cancers and show our support for the campaign to set up a national centre for asbestos-related diseases."
Sponsored
walk from Pier
Head Liverpool to Southport (20 June 2009)
A sponsored 21 mile walk from Liverpool Pier Head to Lord Street, Southport to raise funds for the group. The walk started at 8:00am and everybody finished at 4:00pm and raised over £1000. Many thanks to all those took part.
The walkers taking part were Paul Roberts, Gary Price, Paul Sweeney, David Innelli (Son of Victim) and Kevin Littlemore. Francis Innelli (Victim) and grandson Joseph Innelli joined the victory celebrations in Lord Street above.
Demonstration by the Trade Unions GMB, UNITE and UCATT with asbestos victims support groups. A meeting was held with over 30 MP's after the demonstration in the Grand Commitee room, House of Commons at 3:00pm. Speakers included Paul Kenny, General Secretary GMB, Alan Ritchie, UCATT General Secretary and Graham Goddard, UNITE Deputy General Secretary.
Yasuko
Nagamatsu, RN, PHN, MPH Lecturer,
St. Luke’s
Sarah Close Up
(L to r)
Damon Hoyle Macmillan Lung CNS, Whiston Hospital, Maria Guerin -
Respiratory Specialist Nurse - Aintree Hospitals Trust, Yasuko
Nagamamatsu(Sarah) RN,PHN, MPH, Vanessa Beattie, - Respiratory
Specialist
Nurse – Aintree Hospitals Trust.
Thousands of asbestos victims who suffer from pleural plaques, scarring of the lung pleura caused by inhalation of asbestos fibres, will react with anger and dismay at today’s House of Lord’s decision to end compensation for the anxiety and psychiatric illness caused by a diagnosis of pleural plaques.
Jim Day, who suffers from pleural plaques, says: "I can speak for hundreds of people who suffer from pleural plaques, who have seen their colleagues die from asbestos disease, and who live with the anxiety and fear that they may also succumb to a fatal asbestos disease in the future. The House of Lords decision to withdraw compensation for sufferers of pleural plaques is unjust. None of us should have been exposed to deadly asbestos fibres in our work and we should not have to live with the knowledge that we have a heightened risk of dying from asbestos disease in the future. The small levels of compensation which had been paid for many years provided some consolation for the effects of asbestos on our lungs and the fear of future fatal disease. This decision is all about saving money for the insurance industry and not about justice for asbestos victims."
Compensation had been paid for over 20 years for the anxiety and fear caused by the knowledge that pleural plaque sufferers have a heightened risk of a fatal asbestos disease. Parliament overturned a previous House of Lords decision which withdrew compensation for sufferers of mesothelioma, a fatal tumour of the lung pleura. This decision is yet another attack on compensation for asbestos victims.
Tony Whitston, Chair of the Forum says: "The decision by the Law Lords to end compensation for pleural plaques is yet another attack on compensation to asbestos victims for asbestos disease, following the Law Lords’ decision in the Barker case, which withdrew compensation to mesothelioma sufferers. Parliament overturned that decision and we are calling on MPs of all parties to act swiftly to overturn this unjust decision. As a matter of policy, compensation should be paid for negligent exposure to asbestos which affects the lungs and causes such a heightened risk of a fatal disease and consequent fear and anxiety, and in many cases psychiatric illness."
"This is a disease which affects working class people who were wrongly exposed to asbestos. It is all too easy for those who never risked their lives in industry to dismiss the suffering of so may who did. This judgment gives solace to rich insurance companies and leaves asbestos victims uncompensated. It is a disgrace."
For further information, please contact Tony Whitston, Tel: 0161 636 7555; Mobile: 077 48189 837. Chair of The Asbestos Victims Support Groups Forum UK