February FACTs

February 3, 2016, Washington D.C. –

Ahh Washington politics. If you missed the Senate Judiciary Hearing on the FACT Act, it’s available online. It is titled The Need for Transparency in the Asbestos Trusts (click the title to watch).

I find it particularly amusing, there is no hearing on The Need for the United States to Ban the Use/Import of Asbestos. Instead, Senators like Jeff Flake & Orrin Hatch, would rather misdirect Congress and the people of the United States to “transparency” in legal matters, than address the fact that a toxic substance has not been banned in our country. Flake and Hatch are doing NOTHING to stop the USE of asbestos. Instead they are pandering to a large group of businesses who don’t want to pay into the Trusts set up for dying patients, with terminal disease because asbestos laced products are still available.

Let’s cut through the bullshit. Had Congress banned companies and the military from using asbestos, or banned the use/importation of asbestos across the board, there would be fewer people trying to pull money from these scared Trusts. Had business owners been more interested in keeping their employees safe, than their pockets lined, this would be less of an issue now.

Where is the Transparency in corporate use of asbestos? Senator Blumenthal made an excellent point. Why isn’t there a map of it’s use? The people who used it? This so called “FACT Act” wants a list of victims, and medical & legal histories, and social security numbers – but heaven forbid there would be a list of who used and who continues to use asbestos and where.

I’m nearly 100% sure the republicans who have signed on to this bill have no connections to asbestosis or Mesothelioma. Not one of them understands how it is to be repeatedly misdiagnosed, to have no where to turn especially early on, any idea of the support groups out there or how much it will cost to go through life saving measures – that 9 times out of 10 – won’t save you. If they did, if they were part of this special group that no one wants to join, they would fight for the victims and not the companies who created this problem.

No one was watching, but I live tweeted during the hearing. I point out a few things I felt are very important to know going forward. No one responded, not from any office. Certainly not from Thom Tillis’ campaign, who I’m ashamed to admit is from the state I currently call home. After repeatedly asking him to oppose the FACT Act, not only has he signed on, but he felt it necessary to ask questions in support of the FACT Act, not to garner any new information.

I wish Congress Republics (and the few Democrats abstaining) would stop blaming the victims and fight for a real ban on asbestos. The subterfuge has got to stop.

 

Miles4Meso 2014 & ADAO

6 years ago the Simmons Law Firm in Alton, IL began a race called Miles 4 Meso. Since then numerous groups, companies and individuals have started their own M4M races or rides all across the country. My father organized his 1st the following year, in 2010. The proceeds all going to advancing the little knowledge the world has in regards to the devastating cancer, Mesothelioma, and trying to find a cure.

This year the original race, held the weekend of National Mesothelioma Awareness Day, has pledged their support to the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization and President, Linda Reinstein.

I personally don’t think I have run a race since the M4M event a few months following my father’s death in 2012. It certainly brings up a number of feelings, many that are not worth mentioning here, but at least one of anger that the US has not yet banned the use of asbestos in many household and automotive products – or that they didn’t when politicians learned asbestos was killing people.

Reinstein recently held a campaign to bring more awareness to Congress #message2congress about the dangers of asbestos. That, in addition to traveling the world for asbestos related hearings and visiting the many victims and families of this horrible killer.

I look forward to helping her bring visibility to this year’s Miles 4 Meso, ADAO and the dangers of asbestos exposure.

Please join us! Either in person or as part of the ADAO Mesothelioma Warriors Virtual Team . XO~Courtney

10th Annual ADAO Conference

April 4 – 6 2014 near Washington D.C.

The place, the Crystal Gateway Marriott: 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA   703-920-3230

This year friends of my father will be honored. A young woman, Janelle Bedel, who he greatly admired and who lost her battle with Mesothelioma in 2013, will be recognized as this year’s Alan Reinstein Award recipient as will Lou Williams and Heath Von St. James.

For more info on how you can get involved go to the ADAO website.

Additionally Global Asbestos Awareness week begins April 1 and runs through Monday the 7th.

 

 

Another Connecticut Man Diagnosed with Meso

Many of my piers are helping to spread the word of a Connecticut man who has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma. 33 year old Christian Olsen, his wife & two young children have been given news any family should fear.

Recently News 12 Connecticut ran a story and you can hear the sweet young wife’s voice tremble has she speaks of the pain in learning what the family now faces.

In the video the reporter mentions the cause is not asbestos. I don’t believe they mention what they think it is. I watched it again, but still missed it if they did.

I don’t know the family, but being a daughter who lived with her father for many years in Connecticut, and to watch him suffer from this horrible disease before dying in the summer of 2012, it strikes a familiar chord. My heart goes out to him & his family .If you would like to help him please donate to his GoFundMe account.

A Vote For Emily Helps ADAO & Remembers Larry

Salt Lake City, UT – My cousin and Larry’s niece, Emily Bleyl, has been selected as one of Utah’s 30 Women to Watch! It’s quite an honor. And isn’t it wonderful when you are recognized as a standout in your work, but also when it can benefit others? Well, that’s exactly what Emma is helping to do …

The Utah Business Magazine is running a list of profiles on their Facebook page of the top women in varying professions. My cousin, Executive Director of the National Association of Social Workers, is dedicated to helping professionals in her field grow, as well as the people around her and in helping carry on my father’s legacy by warning others of the effects of asbestos.

UBM has offered the winner $1000 to the charity of her choice and a $15,000 ad campaign to boot! Emily has selected the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization as her charity and I’m hoping you will vote for her from now until May 17th!

You can vote once every 24 hours by going to her page ( http://on.fb.me/102MMTO ) and “Like” both advertisements. Her photo should appear and you will see five stars to the right of the image. Click on the stars and you will have voted! Please share around and drum up more support.

Best of luck to you Emily! Thank you for remembering my father, Larry Davis, and continuing his work of advocating for others. xoxo ~Courtney

The Lives He Touched …

To say he touched a number of lives would be a huge injustice. Some days I don’t know how he did it. The names my dad remembered, the politicians he scolded, the victims, the advocates the family he loved. Beneath the gruff exterior, was the heart of a warrior and I’m proud to share with you the stories being told:

The Sun-Sentinel/Chicago Tribune staff writer Craig Davis (relation now by friendship)  Larry Davis Waged A Relentless Race For A Mesothelioma Cure

Our friends at Simmons Law wrote Keep Running: Remembering Larry Davis Mesothelioma Advocate

The wonderful woman who traveled to be with us at his funeral and leader at the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, Linda Reinstein’s heartfelt Saying Goodbye to Larry.

Longtime supporters at the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation reached out just before their amazing annual symposium, I have no idea how they even had time, by saying We Will Miss You Larry and by creating a Tribute page for donations in his honor.

Our friends at Sokolove Law in Massachusetts Remember Larry Davis; A Pioneer, Friend and Fellow Activist in the Fight Against Mesothelioma.

And of course his many, many friends in Florida who he ran with, drank with and told the best of stories with. The Runner’s Edge Foundation has named a scholarship in his honor and this will create yet another lasting legacy.

His obituary listings are here, here and here.

Please feel free to let me know of any other stories you may see out there. It helps me get through these difficult times and hopefully it will help you with the loss of this outstanding man as well.

My love,

Courtney A Davis

Symposium Schedule