Jay’s Longest Melanoma March will make its way through Yarrawonga this Sunday, April 28 with Aussie celebrities and Australia’s melanoma community uniting to help end melanoma.
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‘Jay’s Longest Melanoma March’ will see melanoma patients and survivors along with their friends and families tackle a 2,000km walk from Adelaide to Sydney over 50 days from March 31 until May 19.
The walk is led by Jay Allen, a former truck driver and melanoma survivor who is now Community Engagement Manager for Melanoma Institute Australia.
Jay battled melanoma and won and is now on a mission to raise awareness and prevent others from getting the potentially deadly disease.
Jay was just 32 years old when he was diagnosed.
He was your typical Aussie bloke – a husband, dad, son and mate to many. Overnight he went from being a truck driver to a cancer patient.
Jay told his story to ‘Jay’s Longest Melanoma March’, a part of the Tour de Cure – riding to cure cancer, about his journey.
“Within an 18-month period I noticed a mole I had on my left ankle was getting itchy which I would scratch but then it would bleed,” Jay said.
“My wife told me to go get a skin check; the doctor checked it and said it needed to be cut out straight away as it was a 1.95mm T2 melanoma.
“The melanoma had spread up to the lymph nodes in my left groin; all those lymph nodes were taken out and I had 44 staples from my stomach part way down my thigh.
“Being diagnosed with stage three was very scary, I was 32, a truck driver and had no idea about this disease.
“I’m lucky I’ve got a lovely wife Janine, we got married after I was diagnosed so life is pretty good but now I want to give back.”
Giving back is just what Jay is doing, taking on this large journey so those suffering know they are not alone and hopefully preventing others from going through what Jay and his family went through.
“I’ve supported Melanoma March since the beginning; it’s a chance to remember those that have sadly passed away, a chance to raise awareness, a chance to support those currently affected and also a chance to raise vital funds for life saving research,” Jay told ‘Jay’s Longest Melanoma March website’.
“If you’ve been affected by melanoma, you don’t have to do this alone, we’re all in this together.
“Getting involved you’re helping save lives.
“We need to educate future generations.”
Sporting, media and entertainment celebrities are also joining forces with Australia’s melanoma community to tackle a cancer which kills almost five Australians every day and is the most common cancer among 15-39 year old’s in Australia.
Jay has received support from Hollywood star Eric Bana, radio icon Alan Jones and the Sydney Swans amongst many others.
NRL star Luke Lewis and his wife Sonia will join the final leg of the march, whilst Australia’s much-loved singer/songwriter Bernard Fanning has kindly licensed his song “Change of Pace” as the soundtrack for Jay’s Longest Melanoma March.
CEO of Melanoma Institute Australia Matthew Browne, said: “Australia has one of the highest rates of melanoma in the world and Jay’s Longest Melanoma March is a positive and powerful demonstration of our commitment to overcoming a disease which is responsible for 75% of all skin cancer deaths.”
Jay added to Mr Browne’s comments, explaining what the march is all about.
“The march is all about three things. Firstly, it is about people who have been affected by melanoma coming together in support, solidarity and positivity,” Jay said.
“Secondly, it is about raising awareness of this deadly disease and the need to be SUN SAFE and to get regular skin checks.
“And thirdly, it’s about raising funds in support of Melanoma Institute Australia’s research to finally eliminate this awful disease.
“It is going well so far. We are more than 20 days in and have walked over 650kms, average is 40kms a day. We started in Adelaide March 31.”
With the march progressing well Jay said he would love to see more people come along and join in.
“Seeing more people come along and join in the march would be appreciated,” Jay said.
“The more people that join us, the more that will hopefully learn to live a more SunSmart lifestyle and get regular skin checks.
“If there are any cancer support groups or local hospitals who would like a visit please get in touch or schools who would like an education session on preventing melanoma please get in touch also.
“Our fundraising target is $350k. We are currently at $208k. All funds raised go towards a clinical trial for when melanoma has spread to the brain.”
Anybody can show their support at www.melanomamarch.org.au or by following@jaysmarch where they can register to join a leg of the march or donate to support the fight against melanoma by visiting https://tourdecure.com.au/events/jays-longest-melanoma-march-2019/.
Jay’s Longest Melanoma March is an initiative developed and delivered by Australia’s melanoma community and Melanoma Institute Australia to help raise funds and awareness surrounding melanoma. All funds will be allocated to a neo-adjuvant clinical trial research project.
Jay and the team will be staying at the Golfers Resort in Yarrawonga and will be at Burkes Hotel on Sunday night for anyone wanting to come down and donate to the cause or wish Jay well on his 2000km journey.