It’s the 10th anniversary of Melanoma March! Unfortunately, due to COVID the traditional family-friendly physical events aren’t possible. So, instead we’ve created an interactive campaign that all Australians can take part in.
Watch this short video to see how it works!
Melanoma March is in its 10th year and is Melanoma Institute Australia’s major annual fundraising campaign. It’s a special event held simultaneously all around Australia which brings together the whole community to remember loved ones, to raise awareness and funds for research to reach the goal of zero deaths from melanoma.
Recent advances in treatment pioneered by MIA clinicians and researchers have tripled the life expectancy for advanced melanoma patients. This year, more than 15,000 Australians will be diagnosed with melanoma and sadly, around 1,700 will die from the disease – that is one Australian every five hours.
Melanomas that are detected and treated early are cured in 90% of cases. So, in addition to self-checking regularly you should have a professional skin check once a year. The following are professional skin check clinics on the Sunshine Coast that can be contacted to make an appointment and support this event:
In our second year, the bakslap team was once again proud to be the local event organiser for Melanoma March Sunshine Coast. Our backyard of Queensland has the highest rate of melanoma in the world and we’re determined to raise awareness of sun safety in our local community. Over 1,000 people attended raising $24,000 for research.
When: Sunday, 1 March 2020
Time: 2.30pm to 6.00pm (registrations 2.30-3.30pm & walk 4.00pm)
Where: Alexandra Headlands Surf Club
Cost: $25 adults, $15 children (under 5 free)
What’s on: 4km community walk for awareness from Alexandra Headland Surf Club, along the Esplanade to Mooloolaba Surf Club and back. There’ll be live music, healthy food vans, sun smart retailers and lucky door prizes.
Register yourself or create a team with your friends, family & work colleagues and be a part of making a difference. Thank you 💙
bakslap is a sunscreen and lotion applicator to help apply to those hard to reach places, like your back without the messy hands. Founder Raph McGowan decided to develop bakslap on the Sunshine Coast in 2017 following the loss of his sister Tess McGowan-Chan (aged 31) to a melanoma on her back. Since her passing in 2012, he has worked tirelessly to raise awareness and funds for Melanoma Institute Australia.
Learn about Raph’s story as he shares the personal impact of melanoma on him and his family and how Melanoma March makes a difference.