2025 Alton Miles for Meso Raises Over $25,000 and Unites Hundreds of Racers for Asbestos Prevention and a Cure - ADAO

Posted on September 22, 2025

2025 Alton Miles for Meso Raises Over $25,000 and Unites Hundreds of Racers for Asbestos Prevention and a Cure

On September 20, the 17th Annual Miles for Meso 5K Run and 3K Fun Run/Walk brought runners, walkers, survivors, families, and advocates together in Alton, Illinois—and virtually across the country. What started in 2009 as a community race has grown into a powerful movement of awareness, prevention, and action, coinciding each year with Mesothelioma Awareness Day.

Hosted by Simmons Hanly Conroy LLP, a proud Platinum Sponsor of ADAO, this year’s race once again proved that every step forward fuels our fight to ban asbestos and end the devastation of asbestos-caused diseases.

One of the most inspiring voices at this year’s race was Penny Jo Major, ADAO’s Ban Asbestos Miles for Meso Team Captain. Penny Jo has been part of the ADAO community for nearly a decade, honoring her father, Donald “MAC” McKinley, who was diagnosed with mesothelioma at 48 and passed away just a year later.

“Asbestos killed my dad. That’s why I’ll never stop fighting until this disease is eliminated,” Penny Jo shared. This year, she brought together four teammates to walk with her, proving how one person’s advocacy can ripple into collective action.

Thank you to everyone who ran, walked, donated, or cheered from the sidelines. Your support keeps the momentum alive and ensures that mesothelioma warriors and their families are never alone. Whether you laced up in Alton, logged miles virtually, or shared your story online, you carried the message of prevention and hope with every step.

This year’s Miles for Meso raised over $25,000 for ADAO, directly funding our work in education, community support, and policy advocacy. Since 2014, proceeds from the Alton race alone have sustained critical programs that empower families, push for prevention, and fuel our mission to secure a full ban on asbestos.

Special thanks to the Top Teams and Fundraisers for their outstanding contributions. Leading the way among teams were Georgie Porgie’s Meso Patrol, Team AL, and Bruce T Moose. The Top Fundraisers overall were Karen Birr, Alison Dreith, and Julie Gundlach, whose dedication made a significant impact.

Your steps weren’t just miles on the pavement; they were strides toward a future free from asbestos-caused diseases.

From its beginnings in 2009, Miles for Meso has raised nearly $1 million nationwide for mesothelioma research, advocacy, and awareness. The race grows stronger each year, building a legacy that honors those we’ve lost, celebrates survivors, and fuels the urgent work ahead.

The fight doesn’t end at the finish line. As industry groups continue to challenge asbestos protections, we need permanent legislative action. That’s why the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Act of 2025—formally reintroduced in Congress this month—is critical. ARBAN is the only pathway to a comprehensive and permanent asbestos ban in the U.S.

👉 Take action today: Send a letter to Congress through Every13Minutes.org and urge lawmakers to support ARBAN. Together, we can end asbestos once and for all.

From every mile run to every voice raised, you are part of this movement. Thank you for uniting with us—for prevention, for awareness, and for a cure.