Her beloved husband’s battle with asbestos-caused cancer – what he called The Monster – transformed Wendy Roberts into an activist who lobbed passionate emails and letters at the U.S. government, wrote testimonials for petition drives and helped with fundraisers for The Monster’s victims.
On June 22, Roberts helped win a victory over The Monster when President Barack Obama signed a bill into law making it easier for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to outlaw dangerous substances including asbestos. In rare bipartisan support, Republicans and Democrats praised the new law for making life safer for workers and consumers. The law Wendy fought to pass will affect almost every cleanser, car, beauty product, paint thinner and can of food Americans can buy.
But the victory was bittersweet because Randy, the husband Wendy adored, had died.
“I promised Randy that I would fight The Monster for him,” says Wendy, 56. “I hope this new law will prevent people suffering the way he did. But I wish the battle had been won long before now, so my husband could be here with me.”
Beating the odds