Hi all,

I have teamed up with work colleagues and friends to run the Brentwood Half Marathon on the 12th March, fundraising for Barts Charity.

Although I am no stranger to charity and sports events...this particular one I believe will be tough (I can only blame myself for eating and drinking too much since signing up!)

As some of you reading this will already know, my Dad was diagnosed with mesothelioma last year - cancer of the lung lining caused by exposure to asbestos. 

Many people appreciate the dangers of asbestos but may not have an understanding of what it is.

So what is asbestos? Asbestos is a naturally forming fiberous material that was widely used in the UK's construction industry up until it was banned in 1999. It was widely used in building products namely due to its strength and fire resisting properties. Such building products it was included in include insulation, lagging, roof tiles, floor tiles, adhesives, window putties...the list is endless.

Unfortunately, the health implications of exposure to asbestos were not widely appreciated. When asbestos is disturbed, the tiny fibres are released in to the air and then breathed in. These fibres lodge in to lungs and cause cancer growth. Those historically exposed to such were tradesmen, such as my Dad.

Sadly, symptoms of mesothelioma do not show until very late in the day - life expectancy from diagnosis can be as little as 6 months.

Why have I chosen Barts Charity? After chemotherapy, it is possible to be operated on to cut away any visible cancer - this however is not a small operation and is in fact one of the most complex operations they carry out at St. Barts Hospital. This is what my Dad underwent, removing cancer from his lung, heart lining and part removal of his diaphragm. They have been able to extend his life however it has not been an easy road and we are still visiting hospital on a weekly basis to manage complications prior to starting immunotherapy.

Any donation made will help make things better for patients and staff, by funding things like state-of-the-art equipment, innovative healthcare projects or ground-breaking medical research. 

Whilst raising money for a worthy charity, I also want to bring in to focus the dangers of asbestos and exposure. Anyone in the industry, whether you're a tradesman, a Site Manager, A Quantity Surveyor or simply a visitor to site, is at risk.

And although chances of exposure are increased by working in the industry, any house built before 1999 has the risk of containing asbestos. On this basis, I urge people to raise their awareness of asbestos - what it is, what it looks like and what symptoms it causes. Whilst you cannot be cured of mesothelioma, the earlier it is diagnosed, the more successful the palliative care will be.