Chesterfield based training association joins DAST to mark 10th Anniversary
The UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA) is joining the Derbyshire Asbestos Support Team (DAST) at The Quad in Derby City Centre from 11.00am on Friday 1 July to mark the tenth anniversary of Action Mesothelioma Day. The event will feature “Forget-Me-Not”, a poem by DAST volunteer Audrey Carlin, which has now been set to music and will be performed on the day by Simon Ball. The public can also sponsor messages of support which will be hung on a ‘reflection tree’.
Anyone who would like more information on the event or would like to sponsor a message should contact Joanne.gordon@asbestossupport.co.uk or telephone DAST on 01246 380415. This year, the theme of the day is to campaign for further mesothelioma research. In addition to the music and reflection tree, people will be able to hear several speakers, including Dr Hadfield, a Respiratory Consultant from Chesterfield Royal Hospital and Colin Smith, who was exposed to asbestos through work and has been diagnosed with mesothelioma.
“UKATA has a close relationship with DAST and we are proud to be supporting them in Derby on Friday for this key event in their promotional calendar,” said UKATA General Manager Craig Evans. “This is an important day which brings families together to remember loved ones, but it is also part of the wider campaign calling for action and awareness of asbestos, in which UKATA continues to play a key role.”
Originally conceived by the British Lung Foundation in 2006 to place mesothelioma on the public agenda; today Action Mesothelioma Day is commemorated by the Asbestos Victims Support Groups’ Forum, medical charities and other interested groups. The “Forget-Me-Not” poem was born out of the stories of hard working people DAST members meet every day. The poem ends with a positive message about campaigning for moral and human rights and research to prevent future ill-health.
“2016 has seen scientists and clinicians from around the world meeting to better understand mesothelioma but until the time we find a cure, prevention is our best defence and asbestos training remains critical when it comes to saving lives,” added Craig. “Greater awareness among the public is a key issue and makes local events like this one invaluable as we look to put asbestos at the front of the public consciousness.”
Based at Markham Vale, UKATA registered trainers work with businesses across the country to ensure no one who may come into contact with asbestos does so without the necessary training to protect themselves and others. A silent killer, around 5,000 people still die of asbestos related illnesses each year, making asbestos the biggest single cause of work related deaths in the UK. It is these figures that make cooperation between UKATA and DAST all the more important.
UKATA members provide training on asbestos safety, delivering the highest standard of asbestos training in the UK.
Media Enquiries:
Victoria Castelluccio, Marketing Officer
victoria.castelluccio@ukata.org.uk
01246 824437
Published on Thursday 30th June 2016