THE daughter of a former Rosyth Dockyard worker is desperate to find a cure for the type of lung cancer that killed him.

John MacDougall (below right), who was elected as MP to represent Central Fife, died after a long battle with mesothelioma in August 2008.

It’s an incurable disease caused, in the main, by exposure to asbestos and commonly linked to heavy industry such as mining, construction and shipbuilding.

His daughter, Julie, who founded and manages the John MacDougall Mesothelioma Trust, said: “We are campaigning for better treatment for sufferers and for government funding into more research for this disease, for which there remains no cure.

“Dad worked at Rosyth Dockyard as a caulker burner in his early 20s and was only diagnosed in 2006.

“It is difficult to detect and often has a 20- to 50-year gestation period.”

Born in Dunfermline, Mr MacDougall was a dockyard worker and trade union member who joined the Labour Party and served Fife for more than 20 years.

He was elected to Fife Regional Council in 1982, later became leader of the council and was voted in as MP for Central Fife in 2001. He was 60 when he died.

Trustees and supporters marked Mesothelioma Day recently by gathering at the bridgehead area near Rosyth to remember those lost to the cancer, which affects 2,500 people a year.

The trust, which aims to raise awareness and help sufferers in Fife, campaigned successfully for the Mesothelioma Act 2014 and helped persuade the UK government to pledge £5 million towards a research centre.

Julie said: “This is vital because compensation does not cure people so the research is crucial to work towards a cure.

“This is only the beginning as it’s important that the funding goes directly into research.

“We should be holding insurance companies liable and getting them to contribute also to the research.”

She added: “It’s important that we continue to raise awareness and campaign for better treatment as it is expected that there will be many more cases due to the long gestation period.”

Asbestos Action manager John Fearn commented: “It is very important that this event not only remembers the victims of asbestos disease but also serves as a warning to workers of the dangers that exist from a product that is still present in homes, public buildings and commercial properties today.”

Julie is keen to hear from any sufferers and their families who could benefit from some assistance from the charity.

Call her on 07918 618206 or email juliemacdougall17@gmail.com.