Back in 2007, I was diagnosed with Mesothelioma a Cancer caused by the inhalation of Asbestos Fibres, a condition which affects approximately 1 in 30,000 people, for which there is no known cure, and the life expectancy of someone diagnosed with this condition is generally between 6-12 months.

Those of us that have been diagnosed with this illness are pretty strong minded and fight the condition with whatever means are available to us.  This cancer condition is not very well know to people, and subsequently very poorly funded due to its end result.

We are supported by the hospitals where we undergo treatment and periodic check ups, in my case Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire and also Mesothelioma  U.K. , which used to be funded by MacMillan, but since earlier this year has become a charity in its own right.

Having fought this condition for almost three years I very much want to try and give something back, so that research can continue into fighting  the disease, giving each of us and our families the opportunity to enjoy life to the best of our ability.

More and more people are being diagnosed not only by working in industries, where they can come into contact with Asbestos, but by inhaling the fibres from family members clothes who worked with Asbestos and would not  have had any knowledge of the reprocussions that it would cause in later life. It mainly affects the lungs as the fibres cannot be  disolved and in some cases Mesothelioma can also move to other parts of the body.  I strongly urge you to log on to www.mesothelioma.uk.com, where more can be learnt.

I have therefore decided that my best option to raise funds and awareness to this disease is by doing a Tandem Parachute Jump with the Army's "Red Devils" Parachute Team and have booked a place for Tuesday 6th. July at Langer Airfield near Nottingham.  Ideally I would like to raise in excess of £5,000 which I know is a pretty tall order, but whatever is raised hopefully will be divided between Mesothelioma UK and Papworth Hospital and with your help, perhaps this figure can be achieved.

Kindest regards

Dave Phillips