Widow’s symbol of rebirth to help others

Feb 29 2008 by Audrey Barton, The Journal

A WIDOW has launched a new fund bearing a symbol of hope for people to raise money as a lasting legacy to their loved ones lost to asbestos-related cancer.

Chris Knighton has started the Snowdrop Fund to enable families to raise money in the name of a loved one who has been affected by mesothelioma.

The Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund’s Snowdrop Fund will allow families across the UK to set up a tribute fund to raise cash for important research into the disease.

Mrs Knighton founded the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund (MKMRF) after her husband Mick died from the disease in 2001. The condition is a cancer of the lining of the lung caused by exposure to asbestos.

“The reason we chose the snowdrop is it works hard through the depths of despair in the winter and come the spring it pushes through the ground as a beautiful flower, giving hope and promise to everyone who sees it,” said Mrs Knighton, of North View, Wallsend.

“There is no Government funding available for mesothelioma research so every penny we raise counts.”

All the money raised from the Snowdrop Fund will be collected into the MKMRF pot and will be used to fund further research into the disease.

All Snowdrop Funds will be given the opportunity to have their own web space on the MKMRF website.

Cora Tiffin, 54, who lost her husband Arthur, 53, of Cardinal Close, North Walbottle, last year to the condition, said the family was planning to start a fund.

“Arthur was passionate about raising money for research and raised a lot handed over to Chris.

“He would have liked for that to be carried on.”

Carole Orton, from Clavering, near Hartlepool, has launched the first Snowdrop Fund in memory of her father and brother who both died from mesothelioma. The new fund called the Harry and Stephen Gray Snowdrop Memorial Fund has already raised more £7,000.

As part of a launch for the Snowdrop Memorial Fund, North Tyneside and Gateshead councils will plant 5,000 snowdrops each on either side of the banks of the Tyne, where thousands of people have been exposed to asbestos.