Mesothelioma Community Rallies at the Today Show in New York for Mesothelioma Awareness Day 2011

LPK's mesothelioma lawyers and staff members joined volunteers from the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation at the second annual rally held outside of NBC's Today Show studios to commemorate National Mesothelioma Awareness Day to spread the word about asbestos and mesothelioma.

NEW YORK, New York, September 26, 2011 - Mesothelioma lawyers and staff members from Levy Phillips & Konigsberg LLP ("LPK"), gathered at today's rally held at Rockefeller Center in New York City to commemorate National Mesothelioma Awareness Day. It was a great opportunity for volunteers from LPK to help the mesothelioma community to raise awareness about mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure.

Supporters of mesothelioma awareness started gathering at the plaza as early as 5:30 in the morning. In the darkness of the early hour, dozens of men, women, and children wearing bright orange t-shirts displaying the website Curemeso.org waited for the moment when they could let the nation know about the dangers of asbestos and the need to find a cure for mesothelioma. This extraordinary group of people knows first-hand what this disease does to the victims and their family members because most of them are either mesothelioma survivors, or family members of those currently fighting the cancer or who have unfortunately died from this asbestos-related disease. Together with them were members of the Heat and Frost Insulators Union Local 12, which has lost many of its workers to mesothelioma and other diseases caused by asbestos exposure.

Volunteers from LPK arrived at the rally ahead of time to greet fellow supporters and to provide them with breakfast. After a long wait, hosts Ann Curry, Lester Holt, and Al Roker came out to greet the big crowd that gathered outside. Al Roker approached the meso group during one of the morning show's segments and highlighted the website for the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, www.curemeso.org. The group was also greeted by the Today Show's guests, including actress and former Saturday Night Live star Molly Shannon, and actress Jennifer Garner.

Volunteers from LPK documented this event on video by interviewing attendees and organizers of the rally, including Kathy Wiedemer, the Executive Director of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. This video, which has been released on YouTube and Facebook, will further serve to raise awareness about asbestos-caused mesothelioma and the need for research funding.

Today's event was the second annual rally at the Today Show organized by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, which is the nation's largest nonprofit organization seeking a cure for mesothelioma through the funding of peer-reviewed medical research.

Since 2004, the Meso Foundation has recognized Mesothelioma Awareness Day in order to promote awareness for the disease and research for a cure. As a result of the foundation's efforts, the United States Congress has established and declared September 26 as National Mesothelioma Awareness Day.

The volunteers from Levy Phillips & Konigsberg LLP included attorneys Jerome Block, Lori Benavides, and Wayne Margolis, as well as LPK's Community Outreach Director Tim Davidov and other members of the firm.

For over a quarter of a century, mesothelioma lawyers at LPK have been pioneers in asbestos litigation throughout the United States. The firm's attorneys have been recognized for their skill and ethics by independent organizations including "The Best Lawyers in America" and Martindale-Hubbell. LPK's clients have received some of the largest mesothelioma compensation verdicts in the country.

For more information, or to request a free DVD of the video documenting the Today Show event, please contact Levy Phillips & Konigsberg LLP at 1-800-MESO-LAW (1-800-637-6529).

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