November 30, 2010 -- 'National Mesothelioma Awareness Day' passes House of Representatives PDF Print
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On Monday, November 29, 2010, the House of Representatives passed H. Res. 771 designating September 26th as National Mesothelioma Awareness Day

WASHINGTON, DC. November 30 - Today, the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (Meso Foundation) proudly announced the passage of H. Res. 771, a resolution designating September 26th as National Mesothelioma Awareness Day. The bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congresswoman Betty McCollum of Minnesota, urges the President to call on the people of the United States, federal departments and agencies, states, localities, organizations, and media to annually observe a National Mesothelioma Awareness day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

Raising awareness of mesothelioma is a personal issue for Congresswoman Betty McCollum. "In 2000, my friend and predecessor Congressman Bruce Vento was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. Despite decades of warnings about the dangers of asbestos, too many Americans are still unaware of the devastating nature of this disease", says Rep. McCollum. Congressman Bruce Vento, a former member of the Board of Directors of the Meso Foundation, died in 2000, nine months following diagnosis.

Mesothelioma Awareness Day began five years ago when a small group of Meso Foundation volunteers joined together to broaden awareness of this dreadful disease. Since then, every September 26th, hundreds of volunteers across the nation request that their city and state governments establish local proclamations of Mesothelioma Awareness Day. The national designation of this important day in the House of Representatives is the counterpart of the Senate resolution (S. Res. 288) which was introduced by Senator Patty Murray of Washington and that passed in 2009.

"The passage of H. Res. 771 is an important milestone in our fight to find better treatments and a cure. Acknowledgement of mesothelioma on a national level is crucial in raising awareness and galvanizing the resources required to end the tragedy of mesothelioma", says Kathy Wiedemer, Executive Director of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.

Mesothelioma is a malignant tumor of the lining of the lung, abdomen, or heart known to be caused by exposure to asbestos. Medical experts consider it one of the most aggressive and deadly of all cancers. Approximately 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma every year.

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation is the national non-profit dedicated to finding a cure for mesothelioma by funding research, providing education and support for patients, and leading advocacy efforts to increase federal funding for mesothelioma research. To date, the Foundation has funded $6.4 million through its peer-reviewed grants program. The Foundation unites doctors, researchers, patients and families, legal advocates, union representatives, and other affected and concerned individuals to share information and advance mesothelioma research. For more information, please visit www.curemeso.org.

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