Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation Community Pays Respects To Eli Segal
SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Feb. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF) pays solemn respects to Eli Segal, former Clinton campaign chief-of-staff, and extends its deepest condolences to his family, friends and associates. Mr. Segal died Monday of mesothelioma (meso), an asbestos-related cancer of the lining of the lung, heart or abdomen. Mr. Segal had been diagnosed just four months ago. He was 63.
Bill Clinton and U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton issued a statement saying, "A long-time friend and colleague, Eli embodied the spirit of the American dream and lived his life as a man for others." Mr. Segal dedicated himself to working with the underprivileged in American society. In 1993 he headed the national service program, AmeriCorps, which encourages community service among college students. He then served as head of the Welfare to Work Partnership, created by the American business community to train and hire former welfare recipients.
"Mr. Segal typifies what we mean when we say 'meso takes our heroes'," said MARF's Executive Director, Chris Hahn. "He was a man dedicated to public service and the betterment of others." According to Hahn, many of those who develop meso or are most at risk for it are the men and women who served our country, built it, and made it great. One third of today's meso victims were exposed to asbestos while serving the country in the U.S. Navy or in U.S. shipyards. Many other victims were exposed, often unknowingly, as factory workers, members of the building trades, do-it-yourself home renovators, even schoolteachers. There is great concern that the rescue workers and other heroes from 9/11 are now at risk.
Yet our country has for the most part overlooked the contributions of these Americans and our obligation to protect them. Research to develop treatments for meso has been vastly overlooked. According to MARF, the National Cancer Institute's funding for meso research has been less than a tenth of that allocated to other similar-incidence cancers. And the federal government has failed to establish any meso-specific research programs, as it has done for many other diseases. As a result, meso remains rapidly fatal in most cases, in sad contrast to the astounding progress made in recent years against other cancers.
According to Hahn, the apathy toward developing treatments for the disease may result from beliefs that it does not occur anymore, or that it only afflicts "other people," such as heavily exposed asbestos workers. Both of these beliefs are wrong, Hahn says. "In fact, the incidence of meso is increasing, and almost no one is safe from it. You can be a friend of the President, and a member of the White House staff, and not be safe against this disease."
For more information, contact MARF, the national nonprofit organization whose mission is to eradicate mesothelioma as a life-ending disease: www.marf.org; Executive Director Chris Hahn, 805-563-8400, c-hahn@marf.org; Communications Director Klaus Brauch, 714-969-1481, k-brauch@marf.org.
Mesothelioma Applied Research FoundationCONTACT: Chris Hahn, Executive Director, +1-805-563-8400, c-hahn@marf.org,or Klaus Brauch, Communications Director, +1-714-969-1481,k-brauch@marf.org, both of Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation
Web site: http://www.marf.org/