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Asbestos support group reaches charity milestone

5:30am Wednesday 9th January 2008

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A SUPPORT group set up by two Hampshire sisters to help families deal with asbestos-related cancers has become a registered charity.

Diane McLellan and Lynne Squibb set up the Hampshire Asbestos Support and Awareness Group - HASAG - after they were confronted with the forms and other legal complications that followed their father's death from mesothelioma.

What started as a friendly coffee morning to help people who had been affected by the disease, has now turned into a full-time occupation for the sisters who hold regular events and make home visits to offer their support.

"It is amazing how far we have come in 14 months," said Diane, who is shown left of picture with Lynne. "When our dad died we had no idea how much paperwork was involved and all the procedures with mesothelioma and the compensation forms.

"We were drowning in information and it was really good to have someone to talk to who knew what we were going through," she said.

The next coffee morning of HASAG in Southampton will be tomorrow from 10.30am in the T&G Transport House, at 15/16 The Avenue in Southampton.

For additional information about the new charity visit www.hasag.co.uk.

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Your Say YourDaily Echo

Ruth Davies, John Pickering and Partners Solicitors says...
8:19am Wed 9 Jan 08

Diane and Lynne have done a magnificent job in obtaining charitable status so quickly. They are very well organised as well as nice people.

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Adrian Smith, says...
10:46am Wed 9 Jan 08

I know I will get flamed for this but...why didn't they join forces with the existing charities dealing with mesothelioma (there are already eight) to create a national charity?

A single national charity would get airtime, raise greater money and awareness for what is obviously an important issue.

There is also the June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund which was recently set-up and claims national & international coverage.

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Lynne, says...
11:32am Wed 9 Jan 08

Adrian I am aware of other Mesothelioma charities I fact we work in conjunction with them! We are part of the Asbestos Forum which links all the Support Groups in the UK. As part of the Forum we raise awareness locally (like today) and nationally when we speak with one voice. We do home visit to help with benefit form filling and advise on compensation. Where as The June Hancock Fund raise money for Meso research and do not offer home visits as we do. However when we raise monies of our own (and as part of the forum) it is always donated to The June Hancock Fund along with The Mick Knighton Fund. So If a haven't confused you, other Meso charities are there for different purposes but believe me we all work together for the same aims. For instance on the 27th Feb it is Action Mesothelioma Day and all our charities will be raising money and awareness. So watch this space For more details or go to www.hasag.co.uk.

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Adrian Smith, says...
11:52am Wed 9 Jan 08

Lynne wrote:
Adrian I am aware of other Mesothelioma charities I fact we work in conjunction with them! We are part of the Asbestos Forum which links all the Support Groups in the UK. As part of the Forum we raise awareness locally (like today) and nationally when we speak with one voice. We do home visit to help with benefit form filling and advise on compensation. Where as The June Hancock Fund raise money for Meso research and do not offer home visits as we do. However when we raise monies of our own (and as part of the forum) it is always donated to The June Hancock Fund along with The Mick Knighton Fund. So If a haven't confused you, other Meso charities are there for different purposes but believe me we all work together for the same aims. For instance on the 27th Feb it is Action Mesothelioma Day and all our charities will be raising money and awareness. So watch this space For more details or go to www.hasag.co.uk.
Lynne,

Thank you for your response - which adds more detail to the Echo report.

I may even pop by for a coffee tomorrow morning - after giving blood!

Keep up the good work.

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Caroline Pinfold and Guy Darlaston, Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, 150 Holborn, London EC1N 2NS says...
12:28pm Wed 9 Jan 08

Diane and Lynne have indeed achieved a lot since they started and have helped to raise awareness of mesothelioma. In addition to raising money for charity they also provide valuable personal support to mesothelioma patients and their families which complements the support and advice given by specialist asbestos lawyers.Action Mesothelioma Day next month is an important event for all of us to raise awareness of this devastating disease.

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Paul Webber JMW Solicitors, says...
1:01pm Wed 9 Jan 08

Diane and Lynne have provided a much needed, compassionate and free service to victims of mesothelioma and their families. They have given up a lot of their own personal and family time in doing this. They are highly regarded by health professionals, carers and the victims themselves and are genuinely kind and decent people.

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John Hall, Thompsons Solicitors, Queens Keep, 1-4 Cumberland Place, Southampton, SO15 2NP says...
4:03pm Wed 9 Jan 08

It has been a pleasure to watch Diane and Lynne develop HASAG into such an effective asbestos
quote
support group over the past 14 months. Achieving charitable status in such a short period of time is testament to their skills as organisers and I know that the group will continue to thrive within the Asbestos Forum. I share the opinion of Diane and Lynn’s character expressed in this thread; they are indeed kind and compassionate people, and they are not afraid to speak their mind and get things done. Well done!

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Law Society, says...
4:59pm Wed 9 Jan 08

How many more solicitors are going to advertise on here?

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Mr, says...
8:22pm Wed 9 Jan 08

Without the girls help I would still be filling all my forms out now. Thank you very much. Wish there was more like you.

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Sarah Best, Dorchester says...
10:37pm Wed 9 Jan 08

Having a relative diagnosed with an asbestos related disease can leave you feeling shocked and numb not knowing who to turn to.
Without charities like HASAG many whould not have any idea on what to expect from treatment and how to claim what help is available.
Keep up the good work girls and everybody else behind the scenes at HASAG.

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