Gold Coast melanoma campaigner Ashleigh Hale (nee Simrajh) remembered for saving lives one year after her tragic death

The heartbroken parents of melanoma campaigner Ashleigh, 23, have spoken about their unbearable grief one year after their daughter lost her fierce battle.

ONE year after losing their beloved 23-year-old daughter to melanoma, Tony and Tracey Simrajh say messages from strangers crediting Ashleigh with saving their lives helps their “unbearable grief”.

“Not a day goes by where we don’t think about Ash, and while nothing can take away our unbearable grief, we are honoured and proud that she has touched thousands of lives across the world,” said Mr Simrajh.

Ashleigh Simrajh being walked down the aisle by her dad.

“I can’t believe it’s been a year since I lost my Ashleigh, it doesn’t get any easier with time.

“At times the feeling of being hollow is just overwhelming, no parent should have to go through this.”

Forever 23 years of age, Ashleigh Hale (nee Simrajh) lost her fierce and public battle with melanoma on September 15 in 2020, less than two weeks after marrying the love of her life Jason at a special wedding at Sea World Resort.

Ashleigh Hale (nee Simrajh) and Jason Hale.

The Gold Coast battler devoted her final months to speaking out about the importance of getting second opinions after her cancer was allegedly misdiagnosed by a Queensland doctor. Ash’s important message spread across the globe, with the Simrajh’s receiving hundreds of thankyous from people as far away as London saying their cancer had been caught.

One stranger wrote to Mr Simrajh Tony saying she was outside watering plants when a voice came on TV and it made her stop as it resembled her late father. She caught the last 60 seconds of the interview. It was Tony speaking about Ash and the words “nodular melanoma”.

“Your daughter was on my mind constantly over the next few days and because of her I made an appointment to get a small mole checked on my leg also,” wrote the woman.

“I was diagnosed with nodular melanoma. After wide excision and sentinel lymph node biopsy. I am now no evidence of disease.

“Please know that I believe, actually I know, your daughter is why I caught this ugly disease early.

The late Ashleigh Hale (nee Simrajh) with her father Tony Simrajh.

“If it had not been for her beautiful face on my TV that morning I would never even had worried about a small black mole behind my knee.

“I am forever grateful for the angel, your daughter, that whispered in my ear that morning.”

Mr Simrajh said a person from Brisbane contacted him after reading about Ashleigh.

“The story resonated with me as I actually saw a GP myself who dismissed a mole that I felt didn’t look right. I went to another skin cancer specialist who also agreed it seemed fine,” said the person.

“Something in me just felt like it wasn’t right. That doctor took a biopsy because he knew I had a feeling. It came back as melanoma but it was caught early.

Scenes from the wedding of Jason Hale and Ashleigh Simrajh at Sea World Resort on the Gold Coast. Picture: Jason O'Brien

“I’m just so sad that this has happened to your daughter Ashleigh. My thoughts are with you all. Thank you to you both for sharing the story and getting the message out there.”

Mr Simrajh says he’s still fighting for justice for Ash and has started a campaign to fulfil her dying wish, to hold the doctors who allegedly misdiagnosed her melanoma responsible.

He is trying to medical negligence law reviewed in Queensland, to change.org petition is called Qld Attorney-General: Review medical negligence laws to fulfil my daughter’s dying wish.

“If Ashleigh had survived with any permanent damages, she would be liable to claim reparation costs, but despite her death, the doctors get to walk away with as little as paying up her medical expenses,” says the petition.

“I want the laws to recognise the pain and suffering Ashleigh went through and the loss of Ashleigh’s future which will haunt those of us who are left behind.

“It was too late for Ashleigh, but help me fulfil my daughter’s dying wish so we can save others who might be in the same situation.”

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