Arie (Ed) Grootegoed  

Ed and his late partner Lois Syret knew little about asbestos until Ed was diagnosed with an asbestos-related lung condition in the early 1990s. Soon afterwards, however, they both became active members of the Asbestos Diseases Association, travelling the country in a campervan to give whatever support they could to sufferers of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related cancers.

Ed also became a passionate campaigner, learning all he could about asbestos, and lobbying politicians, government agencies and industry groups for tighter controls, better research to determine the extent of the New Zealand problem, and effective strategies to deal with it.

In 2000 Ed spoke at the Global Asbestos Congress in Brazil, sharing a podium with doctors, scientists, lawyers, academics and politicians from around the world.

Lois died in 2007. Ed continued his crusade right up to his death in May 2010.

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