Maurice Blackburn Fight Back

Team 'Meso Busters' is gearing up to raise awareness of all asbestos-related cancers by joining the epic 2-day 'Ride To Conquer Cancer' in late October.

The team will join thousands of others and cycle throughout country Victoria on 27-28 October.

The 'Meso busters' team includes campaigners from the support group Asbestoswise and lawyers who act for people with asbestos-related cancers. The group has so far raised $22,280, with all funds going directly to The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.

"We want to raise the awareness of mesothelioma - the asbestos related cancer with no cure. Even more importantly, we want people to know that this is a preventable but terminal cancer," said Shelley Mathews from Asbestoswise.

Shelley, who is a physiotherapist from Oak Park, recently lost her mother to mesothelioma.

"At Commemoration Day last year, Professor Ian Olver, CEO Cancer Council Australia, promised that more funding would be directed to the lesser known cancers. So we see the 'Ride to Conquer Cancer' as a vehicle for Asbestoswise to raise awareness and attract some of that funding for education so that we can prevent mesothelioma.

"We believe if we educate people about the dangers of asbestos and how to prevent and manage it then we can save future generations from having to suffer with this dreadful cancer."

Asbestos Awareness Week is 26-30 November with Commemoration Day being Friday 30 November.

Photo: Maurice Blackburn's Andrew Dimsey, second from left, with fellow members of the Meso Busters team.