Cancer fundraising march refuses to be beaten

One of Australia’s biggest and most popular fundraisers, the annual Melanoma March, will push ahead online due to coronavirus.

Dannielle McKenzie with a photo she keeps around her neck of her late husband Adam Budulica, who died from melanoma aged 29. She has become an advocate for Melanoma Institute Australia.

Melanoma patients, families and friends are determined coronavirus will not stop their annual awareness campaign for the killer disease this Sunday.

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The Brisbane leg of the Melanoma March has had to be cancelled, but organisers are instead asking the public to share photos online as they take small family walks near their homes or in backyards.

There are more than 22 marches around the country each year, with some Queensland events held before coronavirus control measures ramped up.

But those who had planned to attend the Riverstage on Sunday are instead asked to watch a video link which goes live at 9am on the day.

Organisers also encouraged the public to take a local walk in their area or, if they felt more comfortable doing so, holding remembrance events with family and friends in their backyards, inside their homes, or at a quiet, scenic location away from crowds.

Participants were asked to then share pictures and videos of their events on Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #melanomamarch

The public can also donate via this link

Former Auchenflower resident, Dannielle McKenzie, whose partner Adam Budulica died in 2018 at the age of 29, said it was important for people to take part despite the overwhelming attention on COVID-19.

“People are, naturally, focusing on the virus but melanoma does not stop,’’ she said.

“Adam was diagnosed in October, 2017 and died in January, 2018. Since then I’ve become passionate about getting out the message that it is not an older person’s disease — it is the most common cancer among 15 to 39-year-olds.

“Melanoma Institute Australia (which organises the marches) also focuses on why some people like Adam don’t respond to treatment.’’

Ms McKenzie said Adam had three aunties who developed the disease and since his death his father had had to have some melanomas cut out.

But they both were blindsided when he succumbed to the cancer.

“He had been feeling unwell, abdominal pains, bumps on his skin, his personality changed very gradually, imperceptibly, and he became very vague – he couldn’t remember his day at work when he got home,’’ she said.

“At first the doctors thought it might be glandular fever or something he picked up while in Africa.

“I’m a radiographer and he got scanned at my work (clinic) — that’s when they found he was in stage four and it had spread to his brain, his spine, liver and elsewhere.’’

Since Mr Budulica’s death Ms McKenzie has participated in two Melanoma Marches, including the Brisbane event in 2018 and one on the Sunshine Coast on March 1, and has also done some public speaking.

Melanoma Institute Australia CEO Matthew Browne the decision to cancel Sunday’s march was not made lightly.

“However, protecting the health of our dedicated community members and their families who run and attend these events, many of whom are cancer patients, is paramount,’’ Mr Browne said.

“We are planning to hold a virtual Melanoma March on March 29 to enable our community across Australia to still come together, as we have done for Melanoma March for the last nine years.’’

One Australian is expected to be diagnosed with melanoma every half an hour this year, and every five hours an Australian will die from the cancer.

Funds raised from Sunday’s event will go into melanoma research to pave the way for new and lifesaving treatments.

“Less than a decade ago, an advanced melanoma diagnosis meant months to live at best, but our research has helped develop treatments which have tripled life expectancy for these patients,’’ Mr Browne said.

“Funds raised by Melanoma March will ensure our lifesaving research can continue, moving us closer to reaching our goal of zero deaths from melanoma.”