A million for mesothelioma research: UK widow's story of dedication

Chris Knighton, founder of the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research 

When Mick Knighton died of mesothelioma in 2001, his wife Chris vowed to raise £100,000 in her late husband’s name, "because that was the average amount of compensation paid to mesothelioma sufferers." (See The News Guardian for the original story.)

One decade after setting up the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund (visit here for more information or to donate: http://www.mickknightonmesorf.org/), Chris Knighton is celebrating having collected ten times the amount she set out to raise. Chris told reporters: “It’s just amazing that we’ve reached £1m, and the fact this is Mick’s tenth anniversary year makes it even more special.”

To convert that to US currency, Chris raised roughly $1.6 million dollars for mesothelioma research, ten years after her husband's death from asbestos-related cancer. Like many US veterans exposed to asbestos during their service, Mick had been exposed to asbestos while he was in the Navy. The News Guardian explained that, as a gunner, Mick was "issued with anti-inflammable gauntlets and hoods, and the gun turret he manned was lined with asbestos."

“Many of our donations are given by people who themselves have lost loved ones to the disease, and I’m so grateful for their support,” Chris told the News Guardian. “£1m is fantastic, but it’s what we’ve been able to do with it that’s important.”

So far the charity has funded four major research studies of mesothelioma. Chris detailed the research efforts her philanthropic work had funded:

“Our first study was into Alimta, the only licensed chemotherapy drug to help treat the disease. Although not a cure, it may bring a better quality of life for longer to some. The next two studies are looking into treating mesothelioma by stem cells. Although in the early stages, the results so far have been encouraging. The latest study is a new approach into starving the mesothelioma cells of the nutrients they need to survive.”

In addition to setting up support groups and "friendship groups" for people affected by asbestos-related diseases, there is more research funding on the horizon for the foundation.“My next challenge is to raise enough money to set up the first mesothelioma tissue and blood bank, which will have a major impact on research into the disease,” said Chris.

On the foundation's website, Chris says she considers the biggest success story from the charity to be the self-help group they created in 2007: “We now have more than 50 members and provide a relaxed atmosphere for mesothelioma sufferers and their families to find support, advice and guidance.”

We at Mesothelioma Hope wish Chris, the foundation, and the mesothelioma sufferers, mesothelioma researchers, and anti-asbestos activists in the UK the very best with their continued efforts against this pernicious cancer.