The generosity and dedication of our Community Fundraisers and their supporters will save lives from melanoma. This month fundraising activities included a gourmet dinner, a 33rd City2Surf, a marathon, a 1000km walk, a golf day afternoon tea and pub meat raffles – we can’t thank our fundraisers enough!

The Daffodil Chef Dinner

We are incredibly thankful to Maryce Scriven (in centre of pic above), who recently hosted her 7th annual Daffodil Chef Dinner in Perth.

The annual event is held in honour of Maryce’s husband Steven, an accomplished chef who loved good food, wine and company. Sadly, Steven passed away from melanoma in 2014, aged only 32. Maryce’s hope is that no other families have to experience losing a loved one to melanoma, which is why she works so tirelessly to organise this much-loved fundraising event. The event raised an incredible $23,000 for MIA!

Maryce – your kindness, generosity and dedication are truly inspiring. Thank you too to all the suppliers who supported the Daffodil Chef Dinner, and to everyone who attended and made this such a wonderful evening.

Two Richards run the City2Surf for MIA

Before they tackled the 14km City2Surf in Sydney this morning, Prof Richard Scolyer met up with Richard Church, our legendary City2Surf supporter.

This is Richard Church’s 33rd #City2Surf. Since a melanoma diagnosis 16 years ago Richard has run to support MIA and has raised well over $60,000 – an incredible effort! This year, Richard raised an amazing $10,000 and said “What better way to thank those wonderful doctors and nurses who saved my life than to give something back by running City2Surf and raising money for MIA.”

Running with Richard Church today was his son Jeremy, and Richard Scolyer’s team included his brother Mark and son Matthew.

The Lockyer Hotel & Forest Hill Hotel Meat Raffles

Weekly meat tray raffles are held at the Lockyer Hotel and Forest Hill Hotel in Queensland. Debbie Hughes has successfully campaigned for the raffles to fundraise for melanoma research for the next six months, a cause close to her heart as her best friend passed from stage IV melanoma in 2010.

In the first month, nearly $2,000 was raised for Melanoma Institute Australia. Thank you for your ongoing support, Debbie, along with everyone at the Lockyer Hotel & Forest Hill Hotel. We are so appreciative of your fundraising support.

Gold Coast Marathon

This year, Tori Grimsey decided to run the Gold Coast Marathon to fundraise for MIA in honour of her father, Ross Grimsey, who sadly passed away from melanoma.

“We have always coined the term “Ride for Ross” but this time it will be “Run for Ross” as I will be dedicating this feat to my father”.

Well done and thank you, Tori!

Llanherne Ladies Golf Day fundraiser

The annual Margaret Verney Cancer Awareness Day was held at the Llanherne Golf Club in Seven Mile Beach, Tasmania.

A fundraiser afternoon tea was held at the club after the golf tournament, raising $700 in honour of member Jan King, who is currently fighting Ocular Melanoma.

Pictured is Mercia Bresnehan, the winner of the tournament receiving the trophy from Di Mason, MIA Tasmania Manager.

Thank you to all involved for helping increase awareness about sun safety, and raising vital funds for melanoma research.

Donna’s 1,000km for melanoma

On 4 August, Donna Andrews laced up her hiking boots and hit the Bibbulmun Track for a 56-day hike that spans 1000km! Donna is keen to raise awareness and life-saving funds for melanoma research, a cause not only close to her heart, but the hearts of many Australians.

As a registered nurse working in a hospital, Donna has cared for countless melanoma patients. When her husband Steve was diagnosed with stage III melanoma, she feared the worst. After participating in a clinical trial, Steve is now seven years cancer-free and feels like one of the lucky ones.

Donna’s 1000km walk began at Kalamunda, and she is planning on reaching Albany on 28 September. Donna has already surpassed her fundraising goal of $1,000 for 1,000km – $1 for every km travelled! Thank you, Donna, and your support crew (Steve!) – we are so grateful for your dedication & support.

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 Peta on fundraise@melanoma.org.au