Cure Meso Walk Brings Families Hope

Written by Shannan Ferry

Believe in a cure.

That’s the message that drove hundreds of people to Eisenhower Park on April 14, in support of mesothelioma research.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure that affects more than 3,500 people each year.

The annual 5K Walk for Hope event, organized by Erica Iacono and Janice Malkotsis, along with the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, raises money for research grants in hopes of finding a cure for mesothelioma.    

Iacono and Malkotsis came up with the idea for the 5K event after both of their fathers passed away from mesothelioma.

“It’s not like breast cancer that has the national awareness and the millions and millions of dollars this is something where $100,000 makes a big difference,” she said.

Richard Mosca, who is the treasurer of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, has been cancer free for six years.

The event has inspired him along with many other survivors to reach out and spread the message of hope for those struggling with the disease.

“Live your life one day at a time, and believe that there’s going to be a cure and hope that tomorrow will bring a better day,” he said. 

Dana Purcell is Program Assistant at the Meso Foundation and her organization aims to help families affected by mesothelioma."

“We do provide peer review funding for research,” said Purcell.  “We do a lot of advocating on the hill for government funding.”

Mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed with other diseases, which sometimes prevents patients from getting proper treatment.

Since the event started eight years ago it has raised nearly $200,000 for mesothelioma research. For more information about the organization you can log on to www.curemeso.org.  

With additional reporting by Julia Skrobak