To our wonderful Melanoma March community…

As Melanoma March draws to a close, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everybody who attended and made this year’s campaign our most impactful yet.

Our special thanks go to our passionate and dedicated volunteer committees – we just couldn’t run this campaign without you!

Thank you for helping us change lives.

– Matthew Browne, CEO Melanoma Institute Australia

Adelaide:

Thanks to our Adelaide partner Australian Melanoma Research Foundation (AMRF) led by Wayne Harvey, for hosting this event, with a special mention to Kim Thackray for her amazing efforts.

Ballina:

Thank you to Sharyn Dorey and her volunteer committee for organising Melanoma March Ballina. Sharyn organises the event in honour of her daughter Mikayla Green, who passed away from melanoma in 2022, age 24. The support from Sharyn and her team in bringing the Ballina community together to support melanoma research and awareness is greatly appreciated.

Brisbane:

Thank you to Kerry Weir & Tamra Betts. Both ladies tragically lost their young adult daughters to melanoma and have made such a contribution to the melanoma community ever since. Kerry has organised Melanoma March Brisbane since 2014, and sadly lost her daughter Nicole two months later, age 32. Tamra then joined Kerry in co-organising the event after losing her daughter Emma in 2017, age 25. Kerry and Tamra, your dedication and support is incredible.

Bunbury:

Thank you to the Bunbury community for collectively raising over $9k at their local Melanoma March, which was hosted by our MIA WA team. Every dollar raised goes straight to our life-saving research.

Cairns:

Thank you to Dr Vin Rajeswaren, a local skin cancer clinician, and his Practice Manager, Peta who organised Melanoma March Cairns. By putting their support and time behind this community event, they are showing their true dedication to helping the melanoma community. Thank you so much for all that you do!

Canberra:

Thank you to Margaret Leach and her committed team of volunteers for organising Melanoma March Canberra. Margaret’s dedication to the event stems from her husband Tony’s personal experience with melanoma. Without her and her team, the Canberra event couldn’t go ahead so we are very thankful.

Central Coast:

Thank you to Kristy Brown and the volunteer committee for organising Melanoma March Central Coast. Kristy’s husband Adam is a Stage IV melanoma survivor and so she gives back to the community by organising this event. We greatly appreciate the hard work, dedication and passion provided by Kristy and the team.

Cobram-Barooga:

Thank you to Julie Cameron for organising our first ever Melanoma March Cobram-Barooga. Julie organised the event on behalf of her dear friend Erin Higgins who has had multiple melanomas diagnosed and removed since 2019. We’re so thankful to Julie for bringing this successful community event to her local area.

Coolangatta:

Thank you to Kerri Minkie and her fabulous support crew. Kerri selflessly hosts Melanoma March Coolangatta on behalf of her sister Debbie Canino, who has melanoma. Kerri and her team of volunteers did a phenomenal job of organising and uniting the Coolangatta melanoma community for this special event, and we are so appreciative.

Crescent Head:

Thank you to Renee Darling who is a Stage III melanoma survivor. After being told 20 years ago that she had a 40-60% chance of survival, Renee had extensive life-saving treatment and now gives back to the community by organising this event. We thank you for your massive effort and for your generosity in sharing your personal story to raise funds and awareness, Renee!

Cronulla:

What a wonderful first-time event in Cronulla, thanks to Sonia Lewis & Combine Air The Shire. Sonia, a melanoma survivor and MIA ambassador alongside her husband NRL star Luke Lewis, teamed up with local gym Combine Air The Shire, who’s co-owner also has a personal connection to melanoma. We were thrilled with the outcome of this brand-new event and are so grateful to our hosts for joining together to bring this event to life!

Dubbo:

Thank you to Emily Nettle and her fantastic volunteer committee for organising this year’s Melanoma March Dubbo event. Emily hosted the event in support of her mother Toni McMillan who has Stage IV melanoma and has been battling the disease since 2007. Emily, along with her team, did an incredible job of bringing the Dubbo community together for this touching and powerful event – thank you all!

Geelong:

Thank you to Kat Dunell for her phenomenal job of organising Melanoma March Geelong. Kat hosts the event in memory of her husband Brett Smith, who tragically lost his life to melanoma. We are so thankful for everything Kat has done in bringing together this conversation-starting, life-saving event.

Geraldton:

Thank you to the O’Brien family and friends. This loving group organised Melanoma March Geraldton in memory of Jason O’Brien who had his first melanoma at the age of 20 and passed away at age 47. We truly appreciate Jason’s loved ones for stepping up and forming the first ever Melanoma March Geraldton, and providing the local community with a place to gather, connect, march and raise funds and awareness for melanoma. Thanks also goes to Brigades Football Club for bringing high energy and support to the event.

Hobart:

Thank you to the Hobart community for joining together for Melanoma March. Melanoma March Hobart is hosted by MIA Tasmania’s Di Mason, who sadly lost her mother Judy to melanoma and each year rallies the local community to turn up rain, hail or shine.

Melbourne:

Thank you to Amanda Lucci, who has organised Melanoma March Melbourne for many years. Amanda sadly lost her father to Stage IV Melanoma in 2013. This experience not only inspired Amanda to organise the community event, but also led her to pursue a medical career. We are incredibly grateful to you, Amanda!

Perth:

Thank you to the Perth community for joining together and raising close to $50k! The event was hosted by our MIA WA team, led by Amanda who sadly lost her sister Diana to melanoma in 2021.

Sunshine Coast:

Thank you to the local community who joined together at Melanoma March Sunshine Coast, and for the support of our shade partner CoolCabanas. Thanks to the generosity, persistence and dedication of the community, over $7k was raised for melanoma research!

Sydney:

Melanoma March Sydney was hosted by MIA Co-Medical Directors and 2024 Australians of the Year Professor Georgina Long AO & Professor Richard Scolyer AO. We were so inspired by the incredible turnout of the wonderful and passionate Sydney melanoma community who participated in the 7km run or 4km walk. We can’t wait for next year!

Tamworth:

Thank you to Anne Brook for organising her third Melanoma March Tamworth. Anne organises the event on behalf of her son Adam, who is a Stage IV melanoma survivor. Anne’s support is highly appreciated, and we thank her for bringing the Tamworth community together at Melanoma March!

Wagga:

Thank you to the Wagga community for raising almost $7k for Melanoma March. As always, this community gathering pulled on the heartstrings, and we’re so thankful for everyone who showed up and made the life-saving event what it was. The event was hosted by MIA Amie St Clair Wagga Team, Annette St Clair & Moo Hubbard. Amie St Clair, Annette’s daughter and Moo’s friend, passed away from melanoma in 2009 at just 23 years old.

Western Sydney:

Thank you to Kylie Murray & Ashleigh Hopkins. Kylie lost her sister Emma to melanoma in 2018, and Ashleigh lost her father Greg to melanoma in 2018. Both women hosted Melanoma March Western Sydney to raise funds and awareness for melanoma, so that others don’t have to share the same fate as their loved ones. We are so appreciative of your efforts – thank you for bringing such energy, love, and connection to Melanoma March Western Sydney.

Wollongong:

Thank you to Martina Duleska. Martina is a Stage III melanoma survivor, diagnosed at the young age of 21, who selflessly organised the Melanoma March Wollongong event. We are beyond grateful to Martina for her ongoing support of Melanoma March and have her to thank for bringing together the Wollongong event!

Yeppoon:

Thank you to Jess Newsome. Jess lost her father Graham in 2017 only 11 weeks after he began treatment for his melanoma. Now, seven years later, Jess is on a mission to raise sun safety awareness, and hence organised Melanoma March Yeppoon in memory of her dad. We appreciate your dedication and support, Jess!

March Your Way participants:

We were delighted by the enthusiasm and dedication shown by our many supporters who did their own March Your Way events. From St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Gilgandra, to the Victory Hotel Cecil Plains, our Newcastle walkers Sophie and Lori and families, Joanne and her supporters who marched in the Sutherland Shire, Janine and Kara who took Melanoma March to Mount Isa, and Team Jeff Butcher who went digital this year – thank you all!

Melanoma March 2024 has truly shown the power of community. Together, we have raised close to $800k – an incredible feat – and have started countless conversations that have the potential to change habits and save lives. What an accomplishment! We can’t wait for next year.

Photo albums have been uploaded to our website, which you can view here. Feel free to browse, save and share!