Steven Sedgwick, of East End Park, Leeds, worked for many years in the city's printing industry.

He suffered a chest ailment and in March this year was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung.

Mr Sedgwick, 50, is being treated at St James's Hospital in Leeds.

His daughter Stacey Sedgwick, 22, works in the patient transport department of Yorkshire Ambulance Service. She now lives in Acomb in York.

Stacey said: "The whole family was devastated. I don't think I've ever cried so much. The hardest thing to come to terms with was the fact that there is no cure."

Ms Sedgwick contacted Kimberley Stubbs, daughter of June Hancock who contracted mesothelioma and launched a three-year batttle for compensation against the owners of the J W Roberts asbestos factory in west Leeds.

Ms Sedgwick held a car wash at The Monks Cross Shopping Centre in York in aid of The June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund, raising £340.76.

"It was a fantastic day, non-stop car washing from 10-4pm," she said. "I was ready for a sleep afterwards."