Melanoma March: Why Debbie Henry takes part in Penrith charity event

For one western Sydney ‘supermum’, the Melanoma March has a personal touch following the passing of her husband to melanoma 28 years ago.

For Cranebrook supermum Debbie Henry, the recent Melanoma March at Penrith had a personal touch.

Twenty-eight years ago the life of her loving husband was tragically cut short following the discovery of a melanoma, leaving Ms Henry to raise their three-month-old son and 12-year-old stepdaughter on her own.

Just three years ago, the skin cancer claimed the life of Ms Henry’s brother.

Since 2016 the western Sydney woman has been a presence at western Sydney’s Melanoma March, once again supporting the event on Sunday.

“Melanoma March is important to me as it promotes awareness,” Ms Henry said. “It is a disease that is affecting the young. It’s affecting brothers, fathers, husbands, and it affects those that have been left behind.

Debbie Henry with her late husband, Tim.

“I do not want that for another family. I have a 28-year-old son that doesn’t know his dad.”

In light of her own experience with the deadly skin cancer through her husband, Ms Henry had a scare in 2000 which was managed through early detection due to regular skin checks.

“Since starting the march in 2016, it has grown into a great community event for western Sydney that raises critical funds for research that will ultimately save lives,” she said.

The last western Sydney Melanoma March before the hiatus.

“Make sure that you get regular skin checks because we take it for granted that we’ll be fine. Sometimes you don’t have someone to check you so you need to have a skin check from a professional.”

The recent Melanoma March celebrated the event’s 11th anniversary with almost $600,000 raised to support a world-first personalised immunotherapy clinical trial for advanced melanoma patients.

Debbie Henry encouraged everyone to get regular skin checks.

Debbie Henry with her 28-year-old son at a Melanoma March.

The trial is needed because, currently, 50 per cent of advanced melanoma patients don’t respond to, or develop resistance to, immunotherapy treatments.

Melanoma Institute Australia CEO Matthew Browne said he was hopeful $1 million would ultimately be raised.

“The Covid cancellations meant we couldn’t gather to support each other and remember loved ones, but we also were left with a $1.5 million fundraising shortfall,” he said.

“This year’s marches have been critical in marshalling that all- important support for our community and ensuring the world-first personalised immunotherapy clinical trial can begin as it has the potential to transform cancer treatment globally.”