Melanoma March 2015 is set to arrive in Gosford for the third time, on Sunday, March 22, at Gosford Waterfront.
The month long fundraising and melanoma awareness campaign is an initiative of Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA).
The 2015 Melanoma March will officially launch in Melbourne on February 22 and aims to raise over one million dollars from all 25 marches nationally.
The annual Melanoma March event is the principal fundraiser for MIA and the monies raised from the 2014 campaign have gone towards launching the Brain Mets Trial – a world first clinical trial that aims to benefi t patients with advanced melanoma tumors that have spread to the brain.
Touted as ‘Australia’s cancer’, Australia has the highest incidence of melanoma in the world with over 12,500 new cases diagnosed each year.
In 20–34 year-olds, melanoma kills more young Australians than any other single cancer.
The committee of the Central Coast Melanoma March is hoping to continue to raise awareness of the disease, help prevent melanoma and reduce the impact on the community that this disease causes.
Through engaging with the community it is hoped to raise the profile of just how devastating the disease can be and how it can largely be prevented through early detection, treatment and heeding the sun safe message.
Central Coast residents Wal Hopkins and Hayley Van Elst have both lost family members in the past 12 months to melanoma. “I lost my beautiful wife in July this year, after a 12 month battle with melanoma,” said Mr Hopkins.
“Our four children lost their wonderful mum.
“Suzanne was incredibly brave and selfless in facing this insidious disease.
“She was about to start treatment with a new immunotherapy drug which has shown great results, but sadly the disease had progressed too far.
“There have been great developments in the treatment of melanoma in the last few years, a result of the huge amount of research going on.
“Australia and the MIA in particular are at the forefront of this research globally.
“Quality research is expensive however. “I am marching to raise awareness of the disease and to help raise vital funds for continued research, so together we can find a cure for ‘Australia’s cancer’,” said Mr Hopkins.
Ms Van Elst said her mum passed away in June 2014 after a gruelling 18 month battle with stage 4 melanoma.
“When mum was first diagnosed, they said, if we were lucky, we will get eight weeks with her, but due to her extraordinary strength and courage, we were lucky enough for an additional 18 months.
“Even after brain surgery, radiation, continuous rounds of chemotherapy and surgeries to remove tumours, she never once complained about her diagnosis, always saying there was someone worse off than her.
“Mum made the most of every day she had with us and continued to laugh and smile right up until her last day.
“I wanted to be part of Melanoma March 2015 to continue to raise awareness and important funds for the Melanoma Institute in a hope that one day, we can find a cure and additional treatment options for the next person diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma.
“Thanks to my family and friends I have been able to raise close to $6,000 for melanoma research.
“My mum was an amazing woman and I miss her more every day and by continuing to raise awareness and being involved in the Melanoma March 2015, it gives me a sense of being close to her and making her proud,” said Hayley.
Media release,
7 Jan 2015
Nikki Wirkerman,
Morey Media