Simmons Hanly Conroy is excited to announce its Alton Miles for Meso 5K Run & 3K Run/Walk, which is set to take place on Sept. 25 in honor of Mesothelioma Awareness Day, will will be held virtually this year.
The race benefits the mesothelioma community by rallying support behind an important cause and raising necessary funds for research, education and advocacy. Last year’s virtual race, in spite of being impacted by state-mandated COVID-19 limitations, raised $28,000 — exceeding the race’s annual fundraising goal.
The top team fundraiser for last year’s race was Georgie Porgie’s Meso Patrol, which raised a total of $2,593. The team Jen’s Gems earned second with $1,302 raised and Team Captain Oakes ranked third with $435 raised.
As with last year’s race, proceeds from this year’s race will benefit the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO). For nearly two decades, the ADAO has stood on the front lines of asbestos awareness and asbestos-related disease prevention.
ADAO Set to Receive Proceeds From Miles for Meso for the 8th Straight Year
Co-founded by the late Doug Larkin and Linda Reinstein, the ADAO plays a crucial role within the asbestos-disease and mesothelioma communities, bringing much needed advocacy and attention to the ongoing scourge of asbestos in the United States and around the world.
Doug and Linda founded ADAO in 2004 shortly after both of their loved ones had been diagnosed with mesothelioma — a disease caused exclusively by exposure to asbestos. As Linda has eloquently described:
“As we watched the people we cared for succumb to a deadly, yet preventable, disease, we began a journey of advocating to end asbestos exposure in the hopes that no one else would have to experience the pain we lived through.”
Since its founding, ADAO has steadily grown each year and made invaluable contributions to thousands of families — providing them with education, resources and, perhaps most importantly, community.
Without ADAO, there would likely be no Global Asbestos Awareness Week nor would there be Congressional bills, such as the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act (ARBAN), which has the potential to ban all imports and uses of asbestos in the United States.
This year alone, the ADAO — with the help of several state attorneys general and other non-profit organizations — won a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, requiring the agency to now take further actions to hold U.S. companies accountable for importing and using asbestos within the United States.
It’s for these reasons and many more that Simmons Hanly Conroy proudly stands with ADAO’s ongoing mission and continues to pledge its support to the charitable organization as a platinum sponsor. In total, the Miles for Meso race has brought more than $180,000 to the charitable organization over the last several years.
Mark Your Calendars: Sept. 25 Is the 13th Annual Miles for Meso Race
You can support ADAO’s important work by signing up to participate in this year’s Alton Miles for Meso race. Early registration for the race will open next week.
While the race will be held on-ground in Alton, IL, where Simmons Hanly Conroy’s national headquarters is located, those who wish to support ADAO and the fight against asbestos can also join the race virtually from anywhere. Like last year, a goodie bag will be mailed to all virtual participants.
Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks!
