Joe Wallace worked in all but one of Sunderland's shipyards and it is believed his mesothelioma tumour was caused by the asbestos he breathed in during his career as a burner.

The 66-year-old, who was originally from Monkwearmouth and also lived in Washington and Sunderland, died in June 2005, leaving his wife Babs, four sons and several grandchildren.

Now his son Paul has set out to raise £90,000 in his Breath of Life campaign, which will fund research by the British Lung Foundation.
Mesothelioma is an asbetstos-related cancer, which is particularly common on Wearside.

Paul's fund-raising efforts include four sponsored runs and an England versus Scotland five-a-side football match in Sunderland.

Paul, a community support officer with Northumbria Police in Gateshead, said: "My dad started work in the shipyards when he was 15 and worked there for 25 years.

"He left the yards in the 1980s and never really looked back until the past came to haunt him.

"I've done some fund-raising over the last three years, but now I'm making a real push.

"I want to do this to raise as much money as I can.

"It will fund research which will help people's quality of life, but hopefully will also help come up with a cure.

"I have already lost my dad but if in any way I can help someone else I will and that is my motivation."

Paul, who was in the Coldstream Guards for four years, grew closer to his father when they both worked at Universal Sealants in Washington for several years.

The 32-year-old, who lives in Sherburn Hill with wife Paula, 34, children Joseph, two, and Jack, six weeks, and his step-children Jade, eight, and Danny, 14, has set up websites to help gather support.

One, www.joewallace.webeden.co.uk features photographs and information about the campaign, while www.justgiving.com/joewallace can be used to pledge sponsorship.

He plans to run the Liverpool half-marathon next month, the Edinburgh 10k and Manchester 10k in May and the Great North Run in September.
He can be contacted at pcwallace74@aol.com.