Cancer survivor raises $200,000 for Tassie hospitals after lifesaving treatment
“How can I … give back to what has basically given me another chance at life”: Throat cancer survivor Matthew Mallinson has done just that raising more than $200,000 in a decade.
Tasmania
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After 26 days in hospital receiving radiation treatment for throat cancer Matthew Mallinson wanted to give back to the system that gave him another chance at life.
“All too often everyone is happy to whinge about the level of care they get from the health system but no one is prepared to do anything about it,” he said.
Mr Mallinson was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2019 and underwent laryngectomy surgery to remove part of his throat.
He said although the building itself may have needed a few minor repairs, the level of care he received was “fantastic” and it made him think about how he could help the system that helped him.
“From there I thought how can I do something and give back to what has basically given me another chance at life,” Mr Mallinson said.
In 2019, he organised the first Holman Clinic Charity Ride which was a one-day event that raised over $5000.
In 2024, $80,000 was raised at the now three-day camping event and with a co-contribution from the RHH and state government it will buy the hospital four new laryngoscopes and the equipment needed for sanitisation.
The scopes are a cause close to Mr Mallinson’s heart after he noticed that he was only getting “scoped” or having his throat internally checked every couple of appointments at the RHH, but every time at his private appointments.
His doctor told him it was just down to equipment with the RHH not having enough scopes to perform the tests.
The money raised from the 2024 Holman Clinic Charity ride will get the RHH four new laryngoscopes, two head units and four sanitisation stations.
“Essentially that means everyone that goes through, whether that be for tonsil, nose, or any cancer that needs to be checked internally, these scopes will do it,” Mr Mallinson said.
The charity disperses funds to all hospitals across the state and next year funds raised will go to the North West Regional Hospital.
Mr Mallinson won a utility all-terrain vehicle at a trade show about a decade ago and said he was pretty well one of the first people to turn up to a quad ride in an ATV. Since then he has noticed a trend shifting as more people turn to caged ATVs.
In October up to 200 participants ride their ATV buggies through forestry and private holdings around Mathinna in the North East.
Mr Mallinson said he loves seeing the smiles on people’s faces as they tackle the challenging course and get “out of their comfort zone”.
“They see other buggies going up different hills and they think ‘well their buggy is doing it there’s no reason why mine won’t’,” he said.
Around the campsites at night participants join the campfire discussion about aspects of the track and what they experienced on the day.
“They are all smiling and laughing, and that’s more than enough for me,” Mr Mallinson said.
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Originally published as Cancer survivor raises $200,000 for Tassie hospitals after lifesaving treatment
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