Fundraisers in our community go above and beyond

Skin-Ny Dippers take on the Rottnest Channel Swim

In July 2023, while pregnant with her second daughter Odette, Imogen was diagnosed with Stage IIIB melanoma. With no history of problematic moles, the news was a devastating shock. In order to begin treatment, she made the unimaginably difficult decision to give birth to Odette at just 17 weeks. Now their angel, Odette remains at the heart of Imogen’s journey.

Imogen completed 12 months of treatment in August last year. Feeling fit and healthy, Imogen decided to take on an incredible challenge: swimming the Rottnest Channel Swim to celebrate her strength, honour Odette, and raise funds for the research and treatments that have given her hope. In another cruel twist of fate, Imogen broke her ankle, so her husband Mitch stepped up & taken over her place in the swim.

With her amazing teammates, Mitch, Emily, Hannah and Laura by her side, Imogen turned her journey into a powerful force for change. The Skin-Ny Dippers team raised over $20,000 for MIA. We are in awe of Imogen’s courage and so grateful for the Skin-Ny Dippers’ dedication & support!

Erik Mather 2,4,6km Swim

The 2,4,6 km Invitational Open Water Swim at Balmoral, established in 1998, remains a cornerstone of the community. In 2013, the Balmoral Beach Club honoured the memory of Erik Mather—who tragically lost his life to melanoma at 45—by renaming the event the ‘Erik Mather 2,4,6km Swim’.

During the 80s and 90s, Erik was a true champion at the club, serving as Club Captain, Club Champion, and Iron Man Champion. He was known for his humour, his active involvement in club activities, and the encouragement he gave to everyone. Erik’s legacy lives on through the Balmoral Beach Club Nippers, which now boasts the highest participation rate of all Nippers programmes in NSW.

This year’s swim was another tremendous success, raising $22,720 for MIA. A heartfelt thank you goes out to Monika—Erik’s sister—and her supporters for organising such an incredible event, and for their unwavering commitment to raising funds and awareness for MIA.

Lynwood ProAm Golf Day

The Lynwood ProAm Golf Day in December was more than just a day of great golf—it was a powerful reminder of the importance of sun safety in the sport.

MIA’s CEO Matthew Browne not only competed in the tournament but also spoke about the need for sun protection on the course.

This incredible event raised $20,000 for MIA in honour of Matt Serhan, who tragically lost his life to melanoma at just 32 years old. It was a meaningful opportunity to spread awareness, connect with the golfing community, and reinforce the life-saving message of sun safety.

A huge thank you to Matt Bailey, General Manager of Lynwood Golf & Country Club, and the entire team for their generosity and support. We are so grateful to have been part of such a special day.

Gordon Hope Memorial Golf Day

A fantastic day out was had by all at the 14th Gordon Hope Memorial Golf Day, with 140 players joining in the fun.

Congratulations to Dom, Abbey, Gary and Deanne on their well-deserved wins!

A huge thank you to the Hope family for organizing another brilliant event, which raised over $5,500 for MIA.

Gav’s birthday fundraiser

A big thank you to Gav! Instead of birthday gifts for his 54th, Gav chose to support MIA by asking for donations – a truly generous and meaningful way to make a difference.

We’re so grateful for his support and for everyone who contributed.

Emily’s Big Chop for a Cause

We are so inspired by Emily, who is once again making a big sacrifice for an even bigger impact.

Six years ago, for her 10th birthday, Emily donated 38cm of her hair to Variety – the Children’s Charity and raised over $5,000 for Melanoma Institute Australia.

Now, she’s doing it again! This time, Emily is cutting 20cm of her hair to donate to the Kids with Cancer Foundation’s ‘Wigs 4 Kids’ campaign, while also raising funds for MIA.

Emily’s motivation is deeply personal. This year marks 12 years since she lost her beloved Uncle Luke to melanoma. Even at just five years old, she asked, “What can I do to help?”—and she has been determined to make a difference ever since. We are incredibly grateful for Emily’s passion, dedication, and generosity!

In Memory Pages

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all those who have honoured the memory of their loved ones by setting up a dedicated fundraising page in their honour.

Your compassion and support have not only honoured the legacies of those dear to you but have also contributed significantly to our mission.

In this period, we honour those who have sadly lost their battle with melanoma: Prof Allan Glanville, Dean Millington, Frank Boyd, and Barry Partlin.

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