Six Hour Project founder Gina Savage loses melanoma battle

A young advocate for melanoma awareness and founder of the high-profile Six Hour Project has lost her battle with the insidious disease.

A young advocate for melanoma awareness has lost her battle with the insidious disease, which she bravely fought for eight years.

Gina Savage, founder of The Six Hour Project, died on Monday after her long battle.

In a post to Instagram, The Six Hour Project shared the devastating news.

“We are deeply, deeply saddened to share the news that we lost our gorgeous light, Gina, on Monday, 12 June after an eight year battle with melanoma,” it read.

Gina Savage has passed away after a long battle with melanoma. Picture: Adam Head

“She was the beloved daughter of her parents, Zoe and Joe, the much loved sister of her big brother, Jack, and adored partner of Tom.

“She will be deeply missed by so many of her friends, and a huge hole has been left in all of our lives.

“Gina lived every day to the fullest, and truly squeezed every minute out of life, all while remaining a true advocate for melanoma prevention and awareness, after being diagnosed with the insidious disease at just 20 years old.

“She was dedicated to raising funds and awareness for those facing the same fight as her, or those that might still have it ahead of them.

“There are no words to describe this insurmountable loss in all of our lives and the lives of her enormous circle of family and friends.

“We will love you forever G, and not a day will go by where we don’t think of you.”

In 2015, Gina was just 20 years old when she was diagnosed with melanoma after noticing a small lump on her scalp which would consistency bleed.

Gina Savage with her mum Zoe Savage. Picture: AAP Image/Steve Pohlner

Doctors told the Brisbane woman she had incurable metastatic melanoma and was given six months to live.

Gina endured countless surgeries, including having 60 lymph nodes, 17 melanoma tumours and both ovaries removed.

Gina started The Six Hour Project to raise awareness around melanoma as every six hours one person dies from the disease in Australia.

All funds raised through the organisation went towards melanoma research at Mater Hospital.

Mater Foundation chief executive officer Andrew Thomas said Gina was an inspiration and the whole team were devastated by her passing.

“Despite being diagnosed with melanoma at the age 20, Gina turned her heart-wrenching personal battle into an inspiring movement for change,” Mr Thomas said.

“The incredible advocacy she had in terms of being ‘cancer aware’ has made a huge impact on melanoma awareness, research and treatment.

“Gina raised more than $500,000 by sharing her personal story, and was the face of many Mater Foundation fundraising campaigns.”

Mr Thomas said Gina’s passing was a sad reminder that cancer doesn’t discriminate.

“Gina was thoughtful and dedicated to improving melanoma treatment outcomes for others.”

Melanoma Institute Australia also paid tribute to Gina on social media.

“We are so saddened to hear of Gina’s passing. She certainly was a bright light and we are so grateful for everything she did to drive melanoma awareness and raise research funds,” it read.

“Gina’s legacy will continue and we are inspired to double our efforts to reach zero deaths from melanoma.

“With your selfless support, vital melanoma research occurs at Mater Research, having a national and international impact. Funds are used to support dedicated teams of researchers at Mater Research, who are working on lifesaving research into the causes, prevention and treatment of melanoma and other cancers.”

Gina Savage was diagnosed with melanoma in 2015.

Gina Savage was diagnosed with melanoma in 2015. Pictured with her partner, Tom.

In an interview with The Courier-Mail last year, Gina said she hoped sharing her story would find a cure for the 50 per cent of melanoma patients not responding to current treatments.

“Just that one person who messages saying ‘I had my skin checked because of you’ – I think that gives me a bit of purpose and that empowers me to keep sharing my story,” Gina said in June last year.

“When I first started doing this years ago, it was actually one person every five hours.

“We are hoping to make that statistic redundant altogether.”

A memorial will be held for Gina on June 22 at the Pleasuredome at Brisbane Powerhouse.