Rally salutes victims of the ‘hidden killer’

Rochdale families who had lost relations, friends or colleagues to asbestos-related cancers.
Mr Addy said: "The problem is that mesothelioma can lie undetected for many years. That’s why it’s called the hidden disease. But when it is finally diagnosed, the end can come very quickly indeed for its victims."
He acknowleged that not all suffererers of mesothelioma would have worked at Turner’s.
Anyone who had been exposed to asbestos from their work, such as garage mechanics, painting contractors, engineers, construction workers, school teachers and even wives who might have washed their husband’s overalls, could have been affected.
"The fact is that more people die from asbestos cancer every year in the UK than road accidents.
"That is equivalent to a 9/11 tragedy every year in the UK until the middle of this century."
As Monday’s rally was going on, MPs were presenting the mesothelioma charter at 10 Downing Street, calling for more government research into treatments for asbestos-related cancers which, almost invariably, are terminal.
Local MP Jim Dobbin, whose constituency includes Castleton, Norden and Bamford, is also supporting the call.
He said: "This cruel disease kills one person every five hours in the UK and this figure is set to peak over the next decade.
"I hope the government will look closely at the mesothelioma charter and do all they can to address the issues it raises."
The Action Mesothelioma Charter has been signed by more than 14,000 people.
Dame Helena Shovelton, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, said: "Mesothelioma destroys the lives of its victims and their families.
"The time between diagnosis and death is short and in the vast majority of cases people suffer a tortuous and agonising death."