Charity work and events

We continue to support the South West Asbestos Support and Awareness Group (“SWASAG”), which provides support to asbestos disease sufferers and their families in the region.

We have been on SWASAG’s legal panel for over four years now and attend the group’s monthly support meetings in Truro and Plymouth. This year has seen a change of time and venue for the Truro meetings but they continue to be as popular as ever. It is always humbling to see so many coming out to seek help and support one another, forging strong friendships along the way.

SWASAG also hosts social events throughout the year with, most recently, the annual comedy night with Johnny Cowling in memory of Mike Moncini, the father of Julie Pleau and Helen Rowe (two of the charity’s trustees) who sadly lost his life to mesothelioma in 2018. The event, held at the Royal Cornwall Hotel and Spa in St Austell on 17 January 2025 was hugely popular and a great success as always, raising £2,247 for the charity. Our Laura Wilkinson and Jennifer Seavor attended and embraced the Cornish way of life with Cornish pasties and a sing-a-long to The Wurzels’ “The Combine Harvester!”

Laura also enjoyed SWASAG’s event at Home Park Stadium in Plymouth to mark Action Mesothelioma Day on 5 July 2024 where we sponsored the butterfly release in memory of all those who have lost their lives to mesothelioma. We heard from Dr John Corcoran, Consultant Respiratory Physician at Derriford Hospital, who gave hope to all those battling the disease and those who will battle it in the future.

For more information about SWASAG, their monthly meetings and forthcoming events, please visit their website:

On 3 December 2024, our South West team baked a selection of festive-themed treats for their colleagues in support of Asbestos Awareness and Support CYMRU (“AASC”) and their “Festive Fundraiser” event.

There were Christmassy rocky roads, gingerbread men and mince pies for the office and a total of £163 was raised for this worthy cause.

AASC is an independent charity that provides support to victims of asbestos-related diseases and their families in Wales.

For more information about the brilliant work they do, please visit their website:

Chester Marathon - Our Michael Wolstencroft recently ran the Chester Marathon in support of Yorkshire & Humberside Asbestos Victims Support Group (SARAG). The marathon took place in historic Chester and is the only marathon in the UK that spans England and Wales. Michael finished the marathon in just over four and a half hours even though there was a large hill inconveniently placed at Mile 24!

Michael raised an impressive £1,080 for SARAG. He said, “it was an absolute privilege to have the opportunity to give something back and to raise as much money as possible for such a worthy cause.”

Michael is a glutton for punishment and recently signed up to take part in the Barcelona 2025 Marathon, again in support of SARAG.

SARAG’s 25th Anniversary - In October 2024, Michael Wolstencroft and Jennifer Seavor had the pleasure of attending SARAG’s AGM and celebration of 25 years supporting those with mesothelioma and asbestos diseases in Yorkshire, Humberside and beyond.

Between 18 October 1999 and June 2024, the charity helped 4459 people affected by asbestos related conditions to access £36.8 million in Government benefits and compensation, which is absolutely remarkable.

Michael and Jennifer very much enjoyed hearing about the charity’s history, how it has grown over the years and how it continues to expand its reach, providing much-needed support.

For more information about SARAG please visit their website:

“Light up a Life” Carol Service - Our Annabelle Neilson and Andra Popoiag enjoyed attending HASAG’s “Light up a Life” Carol Service at Guy’s Chapel, London in December 2024.

It was a beautiful and very special service. Annabelle delivered a biblical reading and the congregation enjoyed listening to carols sung by a local school choir. Messages were written to loved ones and put inside baubles to hang on the Christmas tree in the Chapel.

The service provided a lovely opportunity to remember our incredible clients who have been affected by asbestos related diseases. Thank you HASAG for organising such a wonderful service.

HASAG Christmas Parties - Our team enjoyed attending a number of HASAG Christmas parties over the festive period!

They were a fun opportunity for us to celebrate with the nurses and patients who attend the HASAG coffee mornings we support.

David Hughes dressed up as Santa and helped to run the raffle at the Portsmouth Christmas party, which raised an impressive amount of money to fund the brilliant work HASAG do!

For more information about HASAG please visit their website:

Rachel Hicks, Rachel James and Helen Childs attended the British Thoracic Oncology Group “BTOG” Essential Update in December 2024. The itinerary included talks on ‘The role of surgery and radiotherapy’, ‘Supporting patients’ and a ‘Pleural and palliative care’ session.

There were a number of excellent speakers and the training day was a great success. We enjoyed meeting a number of the delegates and had lots of merchandise on our stand to give away, including face oils, Green & Black chocolates and sweets. We really enjoyed seeing lots of familiar faces and meeting new contacts too.

On 11 October 2024, Rachel James and Laura Aregbe from the Thames Valley team attended the reopening of the Mesothelioma Memorial Garden at Queen’s Park in Swindon.

The garden originally opened in 2003 and has recently been renovated and reopened to provide a peaceful space for families who have lost loved ones to mesothelioma. Swindon, often associated with the “Swindon disease” due to its history of asbestos exposure, now has a revitalised area to honour those impacted.

Rachel James was invited to speak at the event and highlighted the significance of raising awareness about mesothelioma, and the importance of remembering those we have lost to the disease.

BBC Wiltshire covered the event and aired an interview with Rachel on the radio later that afternoon. You can find more details in the following on the BBC website (search “Swindon mesothelioma memorial garden undergoes revamp”).

In the coming weeks, our team hopes to contribute further by assisting with additional planting in the garden, helping to create a lasting tribute to those affected by this devastating disease.