A SOLIHULL councillor’s family is to fund a specialist cancer nurse in the West Midlands for the next two years in memory of her mother.
Solihull Conservative councillor Katy Blunt and her family announced yesterday (July 30) to a gathering of people that they will finance a mesothelioma nurse.
The nurse will help treat patients with the aggressive and terminal lung cancer, often caused by past exposure to asbestos dust and fibres.
The charitable act is in memory of the Olton councillor’s late mother, former local GP Dr Janet Blunt (nee Leese) of the Village Surgery, Cheswick Green, who contracted mesothelioma and tragically passed away in early 2014.
Coun Blunt said: “I know that my mother would be proud of the specialist nurse which my family are able to support and to be based here in the West Midlands.
“As a doctor, she did all she could to help her patients, and she would be glad to know that from her experience others will now be able to be supported closer to home.
“It really meant a lot that so many people came to listen to why asbestos is so dangerous.
“It is so vital that we continue to spread the word of its dangers and as local councillors we can lead on this.
“The thanks of my family go to all those who were able to join us for the announcement, including representatives from Mesothelioma UK, Solihull’s mayor Stuart Davis and other local councillors, family and friends.”
Any Solihull, Birmingham or West Midlands resident who requires specialist nursing care needs to travel to a unit, based in Leicester.
But thanks to Coun Blunt and her family, including John Blunt, Janet’s husband, and Richard Blunt, Janet’s son, patients in the West Midlands will soon be able to get specialised support much closer to home.
After two years, the charity Mesothelioma UK will take over financing the nurse.
