We want to acknowledge and thank our incredible community fundraisers who have made amazing efforts to support our mission to reach zero deaths from melanoma.
Wongawilli Bush Dance Concert Fundraiser
Thanks to Sylvia McMullen, Chord-eaux, the Wongawilli Colonial Dance Club and all those involved in the Wongawilli Colonial Bush Dance Fundraiser in honour of Reg Murray. They lost their friend Reg Murray to melanoma in May 2022. Reg was a widely known, much loved and award winning folk musician who lived in Jamberoo NSW. It looked like a wonderful day was had and over $1,500 was raised.
Morgan Mansell Check4Spots Day
Peter and Julie Mansell lost their daughter Morgan at age 25. Every year on Morgan’s birthday 30th January, they hold Check4Spots day, aimed at raising awareness and encouraging people to check their skin. This year marked Morgan’s 30th birthday and the 5th annual Check4Spots Day. Peter decided to do something different to raise awareness. He sandwiched himself between two beds of nails. You can watch the video by clicking on the image. It gives an insight into what the Mansell family is trying to achieve with Check4Spots Day. Thank you Peter and Julie for your constant support and dedication to raising awareness.
Erik Mather 2,4,6km Swim
The annual Erik Mather 2,4,6km Swim took place on Saturday 11 Feb, raising over $44,000. It started with a spectacular morning sunrise at Balmoral Beach with a dedicated group of swimmers. These swimmers included MIA’s Co-Medical Directors Prof Richard Scolyer AO, Prof Georgina Long AO and our CEO Matthew Browne. Photo also shows MIA’s Prof Anne Cust and event organisers Monika Mather and Chris Mortensen from #BalmoralBeachClub. The event honours Monika’s brother Erik, who lost his life to melanoma, and funds raised support the Melanoma Institute Australia ‘Erik Mather PhD Scholarship’ for melanoma research. Thank you Monika and all involved for your ongoing support.
Sun Run 2023
Thanks to Holly Whiteley for running for melanoma in the 2023 Sun Run along the spectacular Northern Beaches coastline from Dee Why Beach to Manly Beach, raising $244.
Inspiring adventures
We also wish to shine a light on two inspiring, ongoing fundraisers, the 2023 Gibb River Run in WA and Col’s Ride.
Gibb River Run
Jarrad Bolton, from Margaret River WA, has survived Stage IV melanoma and now he and his friend – fellow endurance athlete Kate Lovis – are planning to run the 660km Gibb River Road in the state’s Kimberley region. It’s one of the country’s most challenging tracks for four-wheel drives, let alone runners! They aim to complete the distance in 10 days during May, to raise awareness and funds for melanoma research. They are also creating a must-watch documentary. You can watch episode 1 by clicking on the image.
Col’s Ride – ONE MAN, THREE HORSES AND 5330 KM!
In 2020 Col Rathbone lost his wife Veronica (or Roni, as he called her) to melanoma. The melanoma first appeared 11 years earlier under her toenail. In honour of Roni, Col is riding The National Trail on horseback to raise funds to support Melanoma Institute Australia research and help us reach zero deaths from melanoma. The National Trail, developed by R.M.Williams and the Australian Trail Horse Riders Association, is a challenging 5330 km route from Healesville Victoria to Cooktown in far North Queensland. The trail links stock routes used by drovers, bush tracks, fire trails and roads and follows the Great Dividing Range.
At 76, Col has decided it’s time to do the ride, and his fundraising target is $53,300 – that’s $10 per kilometre. Col is travelling with three horses and is keen to meet up with supporters along the way. We’ll keep you updated on his amazing journey! You can also follow Col’s adventure on his Facebook page ‘Cols fund-raising trail ride’
To donate to support Col’s ride and read more updates please go here
As Col says ‘Any donation will help’.
In Memory
We extend our condolences to those who have set up In Memory tributes to loved ones lost, this past month, including Gordon Bright Beith and Remembering Margaret Thorpe.
Would you like to fundraise to support MIA?
If you would like to organise a community fundraiser to support Melanoma Institute Australia, we’d love to hear from you. Please see our website, using link below, or email Amanda on fundraise@melanoma.org.au
Would you like to ‘ready-made’ fundraising challenge in support of MIA?
Sign up for our once-in-a-lifetime Flinders Ranges Adventure, organised by Goodwill Hunting Co. and supporting Melanoma Institute Australia research.
Join our CEO, Matthew Browne, and like-minded supporters in this seven-day experience from 22 – 28 August through the awe-inspiring Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. During this adventure, which has been especially created for our group, our local guide will lead you through hundreds of millions of years of geological history as you walk along valleys, explore gorges and climb mountains. From our base at the ancient natural amphitheatre of Ikara (Wilpena Pound) we will discover a world of rugged landscapes, unique wildlife, views worth climbing for and have the best nights’ sleep in swags under the stars!
If this sounds like you, see more by at> Flinders Ranges Adventure
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