A large number of people from coast to coast took part in the iWalk4MESO Virtual Race on Sept. 26, Mesothelioma Awareness Day.
iWalk4MESO drew greater attention to mesothelioma and raised funds for medical research aimed at finding a cure for mesothelioma.
Organizers from Weitz & Luxenberg P.C. reported that participation in the challenge exceeded expectations. They said iWalk4MESO was also responsible that day for a sizable uptick in social media chatter about mesothelioma. And the Huffington Post Rise Facebook Live coverage of the event had more than 93,000 views.
As a result, the goal of increasing mesothelioma awareness was met, organizers said.
The organizers also reported that over $9,113 for mesothelioma research was donated by individual challenge-takers, groups, businesses and others. The collected donations are earmarked for the Vaccine and Immunology Center at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where cutting-edge mesothelioma research is being done.
Make the Public More Aware of Mesothelioma
The centerpiece of iWalk4MESO was a challenge issued to individuals and groups to walk or run any distance, starting on Sept. 26 in order to call attention to mesothelioma.
Event organizers wanted people to learn that mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer that attacks the tissues forming a lining around the lungs, abdominal cavity and heart. They should be made aware that mesothelioma grows rapidly and spreads to other vital areas of the body.
Knowing what causes mesothelioma was also the goal. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to the mineral asbestos. Asbestos was used in the construction of schools, homes, offices, factories and warships. It was also used in many manufacturing processes. Numerous ordinary consumer products also contained asbestos.
As a result, many people were — and continue to be — exposed to asbestos. However, asbestos exposure doesn’t immediately produce mesothelioma. Usually, decades pass before the cancer appears.
And not everyone who is exposed to asbestos gets mesothelioma. But it strikes enough people each year to be a serious concern.
So serious is the concern that many medical scientists have devoted themselves to finding a cure or — at least — treatments that work better than any currently available.
iWalk4MESO Got Many Feet Moving
Participants in the iWalk4MESO challenge walked or ran distances that greatly varied. Some covered miles. Others went for much shorter distances. How far they walked or ran was entirely up to them.
As part of the challenge, participants were asked to take a photograph of themselves at their self-selected finish line. The photos showed them holding the official sign or a homemade one.
These photos were uploaded to personal Facebook pages and to the iWalk4MESO Facebook group. You can see the Facebook group photos and still add your own.
Everyone who participated — and even those who did not — had an opportunity to donate to mesothelioma research at Massachusetts General Hospital.
iWalk4MESO Challenge Continues On
Mesothelioma Awareness Day is now past for this year. However, the iWalk4MESO challenge continues. So it’s not too late for you to take the challenge if you haven’t already.
Visit the iWalk4MESO website for full details and a video overview.
And you can still donate to mesothelioma research at Massachusetts General Hospital to send a gift.
