In 2023, we helped 220 people in Greater Manchester who were newly diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease. 114 had the terminal asbestos-related cancer, mesothelioma.

Many of these people were exposed to asbestos in the 50s, 60s and 70s through a product called Asbestolux. The manufacturers of Asbestolux, Cape, are still trading, though they ceased manufacturing Asbestolux in 1980.

The dangers of asbestos were known to the industry for decades before production ceased. Nellie Kershaw, a Rochdale mill worker, was the first recorded death from asbestos in 1924. The 100 year anniversary of her death is this year.

The Asbestos Victims Support Groups Forum UK, of which we are members, is calling on Cape to donate £10 million to mesothelioma research, to try to find a cure for this terrible disease. Cape should put right some of the wrong they did.

In the press release below, you will find a quote from former Cape insider Peter Gartside, and the author of a recent book about the company and our campaign: “I found that nobody wanted me to write this book. Asbestos was a killer and Cape Asbestos was an accomplice”.