One of our readers, Erica Iacono, works with the New York Volunteer Chapter of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (Meso Foundation). She has asked us to help get the word out about an event scheduled in East Meadow, NY, April 13. Here is her release. If you live in that area, please get out and support this great effort!

NEW YORK VOLUNTEER CHAPTER OF MESO FOUNDATION HOSTS THIRD ANNUAL5K WALK FOR HOPE

MERRICK, NY: The New York Volunteer Chapter of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (Meso Foundation) will hold the third annual “5K Walk for Hope” on April 13, 2008 at 10am in Eisenhower Park, located in East Meadow, NY. Over the past two years, the event has raised more than $30K and the volunteer team hopes to build on that success. All proceeds will go to the Meso Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) organization that has awarded more than $5 million in grants for mesothelioma research since 2000.

Mesothelioma is an extremely rare cancer caused by exposure to asbestos and most often affects the lungs, although it can also invade the stomach and groin areas. In the United States, 2,500 to 4,000 patients are diagnosed with mesothelioma annually, yet the disease has yet to find the national spotlight for research and funding.

The 9/11 tragedy in New York City demonstrates the continued, long-term threat of mesothelioma. Estimates of the amount of asbestos destroyed in the terrorist attack in Manhattan range as high as 1,000 tons. The impact pulverized this asbestos into tiny, microscopic fibers to which the firefighters, rescue workers, and other heroes of 9/11 were exposed, as well as workers, residents, and school children who returned to the area in the weeks and months following.

After mesothelioma’s long latency period, which is 15-50 years, the risk of cancer among those most heavily exposed could reach as high as one in ten. This year alone has seen the number of reported cases of illness and death of Ground Zero workers increase and unfortunately that number will only continue to rise, which is why more research is needed.

Registration for “5K Walk for Hope” is $15. Those who are interested in participating should contact Janice Malkotsis at (917) 751-2776. For more information about The Meso Foundation, please visit www.curemeso.org.

Tags: 9/11, APT, asbestos, death, Ground Zero, hope, meso, mesothelioma, Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, New York, research, The Meso Foundation

This entry was posted on Friday, March 28th, 2008 at 7:29 am and is filed under Events, Organizations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.