FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 22, 2011
ADAO Invites Families Affected by Asbestos-Caused Diseases to Participate in Candle Lighting Remembrance Brunch
Registered Attendees to receive New Cooking is Love Cookbook; Billy Ray Cyrus’ Father, Ron Cyrus, among Those Honored at Event
ATLANTA, GA – March 17, 2011 – The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), which combines education, advocacy, and community to provide a unified voice for asbestos victims, today announced that in keeping with their annual tradition, the organization will be holding a candle lighting ceremony at the conclusion of their annual conference to be held April 1-3 in Atlanta, GA at the Marriott Buckhead. The event is open to the public; online registration is suggested.
People from different parts of the globe will gather for the Unity and Remembrance Brunch on Sunday, April 3, from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. The brunch will give guests the opportunity to pay tribute to loved ones, light a candle in their memory and help support other families impacted by asbestos exposure. Several guests will share their stories and inspire others in their journey.
Among those honored this year is the late Ron Cyrus, father of Billy Ray Cyrus. Cyrus, a Kentucky Legislator for 21 years, passed away in 2006 from the rare asbestos-related cancer, mesothelioma. He is being honored for his commitment to making a difference through public service. Also on hand will be Jordan Zevon, ADAO celebrity spokesperson and son of rock star Warren Zevon who lost his battle with mesothelioma in 2003. Warren recorded the Grammy-winning “Keep Me in Your Heart” song.
We encourage people to register for this very special tribute but if they can’t join us in person, they can still light join the ADAO “Light a Candle” Communityand reach out for educational resources, wherever they are from, “ said Linda Reinstein, president/CEO and co-founder of ADAO. “This gathering is a chance to connect with other families who are grieving or need support, honor loved ones who have died from asbestos exposure, and help heal and inspire action to move us closer to a world free of asbestos.”
Reinstein knows first hand the pain that can result from asbestos-exposure and the impact it has on families. She lost her husband Alan in 2006 to mesothelioma, an incurable cancer caused from inhaling asbestos fibers.
This year each family attending the April 3 candle lighting will receive as a gift the Cooking is Love: Keeping Families Together cookbook, a collection of favorite recipes from family and friends of ADAO.
“When you have a loved one who is ill or you are battling grief from loss, your life drastically changes,” said Reinstein. “However, it’s still important to continue the family traditions you once shared and cherished, whether through a special meal or a holiday celebration.” Reinstein added, “Preparing meals and carrying out the traditions can be part of the healing process and serve as a comfort even in the midst of change.”
Asbestos is still being used in the United States as well as in other countries. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 10,000 people in the United States and approximately 107,000 worldwide will die from asbestos-related diseases each year over the next decade. It can take anywhere from 10 to 50 years before the problem is realized.
Early detection is often difficult because asbestos-related disease symptoms are generally vague and can be easily confused with other illnesses such as pneumonia. No level of asbestos exposure is safe.
The conference is made possible with the support and collaborative efforts of the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.
To learn about the dangers of asbestos, how to prevent exposure, where to go to get help and what we can do collectively to ban asbestos visit www.adao.us.
WHAT: Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization’s Unity and Remembrance Brunch – Worldwide Candle Lighting
WHEN: Sunday, April 3 – 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Candle Lighting at 10:30 a.m. (EST)
WHERE: Atlanta Marriott Buckhead Hotel & Conference Center, 3405 Lenox Road Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30326-1389, 404-261-9250
WHY: To honor the memory of those who have died from asbestos exposure, support families and friends impacted by asbestos-related diseases, and to collectively work toward a world free of asbestos.
WHO: Survivors, families, friends, physicians and others who are impacted by asbestos exposure, and for those who advocate for a total ban on asbestos.
HOW: The cost to attend the Unity and Remembrance Brunch is $25 per person for those also attending the weekend conference, and $50 for those who wish to just attend the candle lighting event. To register or for more information go to www.adao.us.
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization’s 7th Annual International Asbestos Awareness Conference, “Asbestos: Impact on Public Heath, Environment, and the Economy” will be held April 1 – 3, 2011, at the Atlanta Marriott Buckhead Hotel & Conference Center. Presentations will include occupational and non-occupational exposure issues, detection and treatment advances, environmental and economic impact, and national and global policy. The conference is made possible with the support and collaborative efforts of the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, Michigan.
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About Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO)
Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) was founded by asbestos victims and their families in 2004. ADAO seeks to give asbestos victims and concerned citizens a united voice to raise public awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure. ADAO is an independent global organization dedicated to preventing asbestos-related diseases through education, advocacy and community. ADAO’s mission includes supporting global advocacy and advancing asbestos awareness, prevention, early detection, treatment, and resources for asbestos-related disease. For more information visit www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org.
About the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
Located in mid-town Detroit, Michigan, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute is one of 40 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Caring for nearly 6,000 new patients annually on a budget of $216 million, conducting more than 700 cancer-specific scientific investigation programs and clinical trials, Karmanos is among the nation’s best cancer centers. Through the commitment of 1,000 staff, including nearly 300 physicians and researchers on faculty at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, and supported by thousands of volunteer and financial donors, Karmanos strives to prevent, detect and eradicate all forms of cancer. Its long-term partnership with the WSU School of Medicine enhances the collaboration of critical research and academics related to cancer care. Karmanos is southeastern Michigan’s most preferred hospital for cancer care according to annual surveys conducted by the National Research Corporation. Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D., is the Institute’s president and chief executive officer. For more information call 1-800-KARMANOS or go to www.karmanos.org.
Media Contacts:
Doug Larkin
Director of Communications
Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO)
(202) 391-1546
doug@asbestosdiseaseawareness.org
Patricia A. Ellis
Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
(313) 576-8629
ellisp@karmanos.org
