Five Weitz & Luxenberg Asbestos Lawyers Accustomed to Court Success Vie for Victories on Different Stage – a Beachside Cross-Country Course During Charity Race

New York City (PRWEB) January 25, 2012 read the original release

The Miles for Meso 8k Run, to be held Feb. 12 in Boca Raton, Fla., offers five of Weitz & Luxenberg’s mesothelioma lawyers an opportunity to educate the public about a deadly form of asbestos-linked cancer and to raise money to help find a cure for it. Proceeds from the 8k race and a two-mile ‘Tribute Walk’ will benefit the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, a cancer research affiliate in Alexandria, VA.

The kinds of battles asbestos attorneys at  are accustomed to winning ordinarily take place in the courtroom, but, on Feb.12, a quintet of asbestos litigators will try their collective hand at winning a different kind of contest – an 8-kilometer charity run that is a part of a fundraising event whose goal is curing mesothelioma, Weitz & Luxenberg co-founder Arthur Luxenberg today announced.

The 8k run will take place in Boca Raton, Fla., and is being organized by Larry Davis, a mesothelioma survivor and a prominent advocate of asbestos awareness. The race is part of the Miles for Meso fundraiser, which will raise money for mesothelioma research.

“We are honored to take part in sponsoring the Miles for Meso event,” said Luxenberg. “Promoting mesothelioma research is a huge priority. There are so many promising advancements in the field, but very little funding to support them. We want Weitz & Luxenberg to be a part of the push that will find a cure for mesothelioma.”

Money raised by the Miles for Meso event will benefit the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. MARF is an organization committed to funding research that seeks to cure mesothelioma, a deadly cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.

Luxenberg said that the firm, a platinum sponsor of the event, will make a direct donation to MARF.

In addition, Weitz & Luxenberg will sponsor five attorneys who will represent the firm at a mesothelioma research symposium taking place the day before the race and then run in the main event the next morning.

Len Feldman, who heads Weitz & Luxenberg’s asbestos practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, will participate in the 8k, along with Daniel Blouin and Samuel Meirowitz, mesothelioma attorneys in the firm’s New York office.

Cindy Saxey, an attorney in Weitz & Luxenberg’s Los Angeles office, will also run in the 8k, while Kevin Mulderig, an asbestos lawyer in the New Jersey office, himself a veteran exposed to asbestos, will participate in the two-mile benefit walk.

An experienced associate in Weitz & Luxenberg’s asbestos litigation unit who also runs a sub-5:00 minute mile, Blouin explained the significance of the race to his firm. “This race is about coming out and supporting the pillars of this vibrant community,” said Blouin. “The survivors, the families, the doctors – these people bring an amazing amount of energy to everything they do. Contributing to their labors is an honor.”

Race organizer Larry Davis, who in addition to his work with fundraising is a longtime member of the South Florida running community, joined forces with Weitz & Luxenberg this fall in a partnership to spread awareness about mesothelioma and raise money to help cure it.

Luxenberg said of Davis, “Larry is an amazing ally for our firm, and I am honored to support his event. His voice has given so many people hope. It’s not just about raising money for research grants; Larry changes the way people think. With Larry there is never even the slightest thought of giving up – his boundless energy is always channeled into a positive, proactive search for a cure.”

A symposium the evening before the race will feature several prominent speakers involved in mesothelioma research, including Kathy Wiedemer, MARF’s CEO, and Linda Reinstein, president and CEO of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, a nonprofit in Los Angeles whose goal is the elimination of commercial asbestos use.

Several physicians who are leaders in the field of mesothelioma treatment will not only speak at the symposium but run in the 8k race. Participating will be Dr. H. Richard Alexander, associate chairman for clinical research at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center; Dr. Raja Flores, chief of thoracic surgery at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City; and Dr. Dipnarine Maharaj of the South Florida Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Transplant Institute.

The race, schedule to start at 7:30 Sunday morning, will be hosted by the Runner’s Edge foundation, a nonprofit organization in Boca Raton dedicated to promoting physical fitness for people across all age groups. The nearly five mile course runs through Spanish River Park between Boca Raton’s Intracoastal waters and the Atlantic coast.

While Weitz & Luxenberg’s attorneys and other members of the research community will participate in the event mostly to raise money and awareness, several elite cross country professionals are expected to attend as well.

About Weitz & Luxenberg

Founded in 1986 by attorneys Perry Weitz and Arthur Luxenberg, Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., today ranks among the nation’s leading law firms. Weitz & Luxenberg’s numerous litigation areas include: mesothelioma, defective medicine and devices, environmental pollutants, accidents, personal injury, and medical malpractice. Victims of accidents are invited to rely on Weitz & Luxenberg’s more than 20 years of handling such cases – begin by contacting the firm’s Client Relations department at 1-800-476-6070 or at clientrelations(at)weitzlux(dot)com and ask for a free legal consultation. More information: http://www.weitzlux.com

‘South Florida Miles for Meso’ Sun Sentinel Article

Courtesy the Sun Sentinel/Palm Beach edition –  with special thanks to photographer Gina Fontana (I’ll post the actual article when I have it scanned)

The third annual “South Florida Miles for Meso 8K & 2M Tribute Walk,” benefiting the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, will take place on Feb. 12 at Spanish River Park located in Boca Raton.

Pompano Beach resident and avid runner, Larry Davis, who was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2006, will host the race.

Each year nearly 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer caused by exposure to asbestos fibers.

After a latency period of 10 to 50 years, the cancer invades the linings of the lungs, abdomen and heart.

There is currently no known cure for mesothelioma.

This year Davis will team up with the Runner’s Edge Foundation (REF) to help promote healthy living.

REF promotes running and physical fitness for people of all ages. The foundation also supports groups and organizations in pursuit of running and physical fitness through teams, programs, competitions and educational means.

“My stepmother passed away a few years ago from cancer after a very long and difficult battle. I was very close to her and seeing Larry in a difficult cancer battle is something close to me … while I can never truly understand, I can support his fight,” said REF creator, Tom Vladimir.

A post-race party will include an awards ceremony, food, beverages, bounce house and more. To register for the race, visit http://www.Active.com.

A pre-race mesothelioma symposium will take place on Feb. 11th at the Hilton Hotel Deerfield/Boca from 3 to 7 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet leading experts in mesothelioma cancer research.

For more information about the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, visit http://www.curemeso.org.

(L-R) Ken Butalewicz, Susie Simms, John May and Courtney May, 11.------Special to the Sun-Sentinel, Photo by Gina Fontana

M4M Saturday Health Symposium