Melanoma marchers share deeply personal links

In May 2024, the lives of my family changed in a way we never expected. My husband, Chris, developed a persistent cough that wouldn't go away.

Chris has always been one of the fittest people I know; active, healthy and the last person you would imagine facing a life-threatening illness.

After a series of scans and tests, we received the shocking news: Chris had advanced metastatic melanoma in his lung.

Like many people, we had always associated melanoma with skin spots or sunburn, not something that could quietly spread inside the body. Chris had been vigilant with regular skin checks, so the diagnosis came as a complete shock.

Australia has the highest rates of melanoma in the world. One Australian is diagnosed with melanoma every 30 minutes, and one person dies from the disease every six hours. It is also the most common cancer affecting Australians aged between 20 and 39.

These confronting statistics are why communities across the country gather each year for Melanoma March, a national event raising awareness of the dangers of melanoma and vital funds for research through Melanoma Institute Australia.

This year, the Wollongong Melanoma March will take place on March 29, bringing our community together for a four-kilometre walk to honour those we have lost, support those facing the disease, and draw attention to progress being made through research and treatment.

For many volunteers involved in organising the event, the cause is deeply personal – as is the case with us.

Chris is now undergoing treatment through the Melanoma Institute in Sydney. Like many families facing cancer, we have experienced moments of fear and uncertainty, but we have also experienced incredible care and hope from the medical teams and researchers working tirelessly to improve outcomes for patients.

Less than a decade ago, a diagnosis of advanced melanoma was often considered a near-certain death sentence. Today, thanks to world-leading research and breakthrough treatments, including targeted therapies and immunotherapy, survival outcomes for many patients have improved dramatically.

When you sit beside someone you love in a treatment room, those advances mean everything. The treatments Chris is receiving today exist because of melanoma research and clinical trials, and those trials are made possible by funding and the generosity of people who volunteer their time to raise funds.

That is why I volunteer.

The Wollongong Melanoma March is more than a walk. Families, friends, survivors, patients and supporters walk side by side – some in memory of loved ones lost to melanoma, others while still undergoing treatment, and many simply to help ensure fewer families face the heartache of this disease in the future.

The Wollongong committee is made up of passionate volunteers who all share a personal connection to melanoma. That shared experience creates a powerful sense of purpose: to raise awareness, fund research, help save lives and to offer support.

Melanoma is more than skin deep. It can affect anyone, and that is why sun safety matters. Protecting your skin is not just about avoiding sunburn; it is about reducing the risk of a potentially deadly cancer.

Wearing protective clothing, seeking shade, avoiding tanning and applying sunscreen are simple habits that make a real difference. Regular skin checks are also essential, because early detection saves lives.

So this March, walk with us as we walk for every family facing melanoma, and if you can’t walk, donate or book in for a skin check. It could just save your life.

To register to walk or donate, visit the Melanoma March website and show your support for #zerodeathsfrommelanoma