March to help fight against melanoma

Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA) is calling on Central Coast residents to join its national campaign, Melanoma March 2025, to raise awareness and funds to save lives from melanoma.

The Central Coast Melanoma March will be held on Sunday, March 30, at Saltwater Creek Reserve, Long Jetty.

The national campaign, now in its 14th year, is MIA’s flagship fundraising campaign and involves participants either walking or running at family-friendly events across the country during the month of March.

Central Coast resident Rachael Horne was 27 years old when she noticed a change in the colour and shape of a small spot on the second toe on her left foot.

What initially looked like a freckle turned out to be melanoma, requiring surgery which resulted in the partial amputation of the top of her toe and the top joint.

What you would expect to be a simple recovery turned into a long journey, as Horne had to rebuild her muscle strength after being immobile for four weeks and learn to walk with an even gait once again.

Now, 12 months on, she recently completed her first triathlon.

“When I found out I had melanoma, so many people were shocked that someone my age could have it,” she said.

“Awareness that melanoma is not just an old person’s disease is very critical in educating people, especially those my age, to look for changes on their skin and, if they see one, to get it checked.

“I’m walking in Melanoma March to help promote that awareness, as well as raise critical funds for research.

“But as we know, research doesn’t stand alone; it stands  alongside community awareness and sun-safety practices.

“For me, that’s why community initiatives like Melanoma March are so important.”

This year, all funds raised will go towards the updating and clinical promotion of the National Melanoma Clinical Guidelines.

This was a key priority identified in the 2022 State of the Nation in Melanoma Report and is vital to ensure melanoma patients across Australia benefit from current evidence-based clinical best practice.

The National Melanoma Clinical Guidelines are not funded by Government, and so funds raised at Melanoma March 2025 will provide the necessary support to help achieve zero deaths from melanoma and also to lower the overall health burden from the disease.

This year’s campaign also aims to shine a spotlight on the dangers of tanning and the need for all Australians to follow the five sun safe rules to prevent melanoma and other skin cancers.

Australia has the highest melanoma rates in the world.

One person is diagnosed with melanoma every 30 minutes and one person dies from the disease every six hours.

It is the most common cancer affecting 20–39-year-old Australians.

To register or donate to Melanoma March, go to www.melanomamarch.org.au