‘The toughest part is as her husband I can’t do anything to fix it’: Meet the Gold Coast father cycling the length of Australia for cancer and for family

Cancer can be a heartbreaking foe, but one Gold Coast couple’s enduring efforts are offering up inspiration not just within the family but to the community and to the country.

The Malone family has been battling cancer for nine years

Cancer can be a heartbreaking foe, but one Gold Coast couple’s enduring efforts are offering up inspiration not just within their family but to the community and to the country.

Tallebudgera local Cam Malone is taking on Australia “via the long way”. Armed with his trusty bike and a mission to inspire, the father of two is setting his sights on a 5,500km Perth to Sydney journey solo and unsupported in order to raise funds for his wife Jen’s ongoing cancer battle.

Jen was first diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer in 2016. After a brief period of remission the cancer returned, spreading in 2020 to her chest, lungs, neck, throat, brain and kidneys. To date Jen has battled 15 tumours.

The couple have two boys aged 10 and 12 and Cam says he wants to show them that anything is possible with “hard work, belief in yourself and determination”.

Cameron Malone is embarking on a 5,500km bike journey around Australia to raise funds for his wife Jen's ongoing cancer battle

“The boys are very proud of me for doing this ride for Mummy,” he said. “They see the hard work that she puts in every single day to battle her cancer and ensure that she is still around for them and see this as my way of showing solidarity to her by embarking on my own battle.”

Nine years of battling cancer has left no shortage of “hardest parts” for the parents, but Cam says Jen’s strength and positivity have been a huge part in helping to overcome challenges.

“To watch my wife go through the pain, the stress, the treatments, the surgery, the losing hair, the losing body parts, the trying to always be OK for everyone else so that everyone else can be OK with what is happening.

“The fact that as her husband I can’t do anything to fix it, to make it right, is the toughest part. But my wife is the toughest person I know so she makes it as easy as possible for everyone else by always remaining positive and pushing through whatever challenges have been thrown at her on this brutal journey.”

Cameron Malone loading up ahead of a day full of riding.

The couple maintains facing off with the devastating consequences cancer brings has made faith and hope central to their journey.

“Despite receiving a shocking diagnosis and not being expected to have much longer to live, my wife has always maintained a positive outlook, hope for a cancer free future and faith that she will be healed and well enough to continue to be a wife and mother to our young boys,” he said. “To demonstrate to them that the way we approach life’s challenges is a big part of how we experience the journey, and ultimately often determines the destination.”

Cam set out on the 15th of March and has just reached the halfway point of Kimba. He is averaging 214 km a day. Donations can be made to his Go Fund Me here.