ALTON – Simmons Hanly Conroy, a national leader in the legal representation of mesothelioma patients and their families, is proud to announce its 9th Annual Alton Miles for Meso 5K Race & 3K Fun Run/Walk on Sept. 30 raised $30,000 for the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, a national non-profit dedicated to securing a U.S. ban on asbestos and supporting families impacted by asbestos.
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“I am astounded at the passionate outpouring of community and advocacy seen during this year’s Alton Miles for Meso 5k,” said ADAO President Linda Reinstein. “Events like Miles for Meso provide healing and allow us to join together and increase awareness that asbestos remains legal and lethal in the USA today. ADAO sincerely thanks Simmons Hanly Conroy for their continued leadership in supporting asbestos victims’ civil rights and public health.”
More than 1,200 people attended the Alton race at the national headquarters of Simmons Hanly Conroy on Sept. 30. Twenty-one states were represented at the race, with racers from California to Florida crossing the finish line. Since 2009, thousands more have attended Miles for Meso events in Ohio, Washington, Texas, Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Indiana and New York.
“We are overwhelmed by the support the race has received locally, as well as from the national mesothelioma community,” said firm Chairman John Simmons. “Without the support of our employees, our volunteers, our sponsors and so many other people, the race could not be what it is today.”
A total of 15 fundraising teams accounted for this year’s donation. Together they raised almost $8,500 of this year’s total. The top three fundraising teams were recognized during the award ceremony with top fundraising awards. The “Georgie Porgie’s Meso Patrol” team took home the top fundraising award with more than $1,000 raised. They fundraised in memory of George Dreith, from Godfrey, Illinois, who passed away from mesothelioma.
Second-place honors went to the “#ENDMeso” team, comprised of ADAO representatives, and third place went to “The Friends and Family of Virgil E. Williams” team, who raised money in memory of Virgil E. Williams, a Pontoon Beach, Illinois resident who passed away from mesothelioma.
The top five overall men and women finishers received more than $2,000 in cash prizes. Keith Meyer, of Bloomington, Illinois placed first overall in the men’s division with a time of 15:10. Jackie Pirtle-Hall, of St. Charles, Missouri, placed first overall in the women’s division with a time of 17:13. The top three finishers in 5-year age groups also received Miles for Meso custom medals. All children under age 16 received a participation medal as they crossed the finish line.
The Alton event included an activity area for children, a bubble bus, food trucks, entertainment, vendor fair, free food and drinks, photo booths and an acoustic performance by singer-songwriter Jordan Zevon, ADAO’s national spokesperson. Zevon is the son of musician Warren Zevon, who died of mesothelioma in 2003 and was posthumously awarded two Grammys.
Including the Alton event, Miles for Meso races this year raised more than $75,000 for mesothelioma cancer research and awareness. Since 2009, Miles for Meso races have raised $280,000 in Alton and almost $650,000 nationwide. The money is raised through a combination of registration fees, personal donations, team fundraising, and corporate donations.
This year’s Alton sponsors included Platinum Sponsors: Acropolis Technology Group, First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust, Jenner & Block LLP, Pohlman USA, The Bridge Church, Stratos Legal, and The Tedrick Group; Gold Sponsors: Sokolove Law, BDO, Alton Memorial Hospital, Thomson Reuters, Impact Strategies, Hurford Architects, Inc., FindLaw; and Silver Sponsors: Office Essentials, Ricoh, Covene, DogWatch Hidden Fences, Xtreme Green Synthetic Turf, Building Stars – Dwyer Cleaning, The St. Louis/Southern Illinois Labor Tribune, Holland Construction Services, Fast Eddie’s Bon Air, and Lockton Companies.
About the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) is the largest independent asbestos victims’ organization in the United States. It was founded in 2004 to give asbestos victims and concerned citizens a united voice, to raise public awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure and to work toward a global asbestos ban. ADAO is dedicated to preventing asbestos-caused diseases through national and international education, advocacy, and community initiatives.
For more information, visit http://www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org/
About Miles for Meso
Miles for Meso is an initiative of the Simmons Mesothelioma Foundation that was established in 2009 to raise funds and awareness for mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Miles for Meso races have been held across the country, from New York to Florida to Washington state and several locations in between. Together, Miles for Meso events have raised almost $650,000 to benefit mesothelioma research and awareness.
About Simmons Hanly Conroy, LLC
Simmons Hanly Conroy is one of the nation’s largest mass tort law firms. Primary areas of litigation include asbestos and mesothelioma, pharmaceutical, consumer protection, environmental and personal injury. The firm’s attorneys have been appointed to leadership in numerous national multidistrict litigations, including Vioxx, Toyota Unintended Acceleration, BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, DePuy Pinnacle and the Volkswagen Emission Scandal. The firm also represents small and mid-size corporations, inventors and entrepreneurs in matters involving business litigation. Offices are located in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, St. Louis, and Alton, Ill. Read more at www.simmonsfirm.com.
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