March mum wins 2024 Tenacious Awards for almost a decade of campaigning on the harms of plastic surgical mesh implants

A March mum who has spent almost a decade raising awareness of the life-changing harm of surgical mesh has been named a winner of the 2024 Tenacious Campaigner Awards.

Kath Sansom runs Sling The Mesh, which began in 2015 with 20 members on her Facebook support group, and now has almost 11,000 from across the world.

The award is a prestigious recognition, that celebrates exceptional individuals who have shown extraordinary skill and determination in their fight against injustice and for driving meaningful societal change.

Kath said: “Receiving the Tenacious Campaigner Award is an incredible honour. This recognition not only highlights the importance of our fight but also fuels my determination to push for lasting change in the arena of patient safety.

“I don’t want my children and grandchildren to suffer as we all have. We must not have another mesh scandal where innocent people are harmed from healthcare treatments and then face a brick wall of denial.”

This year’s awardees have demonstrated remarkable resilience and effectiveness in their respective campaigns, each making a significant impact in their fields.

Each of the 10 individuals will receive a grant of £20,000 to further advance their campaigns.

The winners will attend a prize-giving event in London on September 25, with an opportunity to meet the awardees and network with other professionals across the fields of campaigning, law, journalism, and philanthropy.