Mrs. Florida Int'l Contestant Launches Mesothelioma Campaign

Vida Hargrett has a forum now — and she plans to use it. Hargrett, 30, has qualified for the 2016 Mrs. Florida International Pageant, hoping to utilize that platform to raise awareness for mesothelioma and the growing move to ban asbestos. Her goals are lofty. "I'm not afraid to speak up — and speak out," Hargrett said from her home in South Florida. "And this is a cause worth fighting for. I'll take this battle around the world if I can." Hargrett is the daughter-in-law of peritoneal mesothelioma survivor Patricia Hargrett, who has battled the asbestos-related cancer since October 2012. Her diagnosis stunned the family, but it also energized Vida's conviction to bring awareness to the disease. "When she was first diagnosed, I knew nothing about mesothelioma. I couldn't even pronounce the word," she said. "But it lit a fire under me. And I realized this is a chance to really make a difference in the world. It was an emotion I had never felt before." The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) has partnered with her, making Hargrett the group's Florida representative. She has been traveling the state, meeting with anyone who will listen to her speak about mesothelioma. Her enthusiasm is contagious. "It's all about raising awareness and educating people about mesothelioma," she said. "You just don't hear enough about it. I guess not enough lives have been taken for this disease to get the attention it should." Making the Rounds Hargrett spoke about mesothelio...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Celebrities Source Type: news