Arrow trail walkers help cancer patients with mammoth fundraising effort

Hundreds of breast cancer and melanoma patients in FNQ are benefiting after walkers took to the arrow trails of Mt Whitfield last year for a mammoth fundraising effort.

Hundreds of breast cancer and melanoma patients in the Far North will have better access to specialist testing equipment after a 10km mountain hike raised $87,000.

A second set of neoprobes has been bought for breast cancer and melanoma patients by the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation with money raised from the 2022 BDO Arrow Experience, a 10km walk of Mt Whitfield held last year.

Cairns Hospital general and breast surgeon Dr Aemelia Melloy is one of several surgeons using the probes on lists of up to six patients a day, five days a week.

“We use the probes on most breast cancer patients, depending on what stage they are, as we can identify which lymph node the cancer will likely drain into and then remove it, thus making a significant difference to their long-term outcomes,” Dr Melloy said.

Having a second set means that we can treat more patients in a short period of time while still allowing the equipment to be sterilised in between,” she said.

Foundation CEO Gina Hogan said the 2022 BDO Arrow Experience was another successful event.

Cairns Hospital's surgical department has received a brand new Neoprobe gamma probes to assist in breast cancer and melanoma surgery. The new medical equipment was bought using money fundraised through the BDO Arrow Experience, run by the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation. Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation CEO Gina Hogan, Cairns Hospital surgeon Aemelia Melloy and BDO Accountants CEO Stacey Young with the new surgical equipment. Picture: Brendan Radke

“With thanks to all our sponsors, donors, walkers and people who bought tickets in the camper trailer, we were able to raise $87,000 to produce this outcome,” Ms Hogan said.

This year’s BDO Arrow Experience will be on Sunday, July 2, with funds to go to the Foundation’s Cancer Care Hub campaign.

Taking patient care to the next level is the catchcry of the campaign, which will mean more cancer patients will receive their treatment locally rather than having to travel south, they will live longer as new treatments are discovered, they can be treated more effectively, chemotherapy manufacturing will be expanded on site and inpatients will have better outcomes in their treatment experience.

“There has been a 40 per cent increase in cancer activity at the Liz Plummer Cancer Care Centre in the past five years,” Ms Hogan said.

“This is because of the vast array of cancer treatments now available – people are living longer with cancer rather than dying prematurely.

“Walking the Arrows with your family or friends, while fundraising for an amazing local cause, is an incredible way of having fun and making a difference.

“Sadly, the latest data indicates one third of the population will develop cancer during their lifetime so we know this project will make a significant difference in our community.

“We strongly encourage people to sign up to walk the Arrows and help cancer patients in our region.”

Originally published as Arrow trail walkers help cancer patients with mammoth fundraising effort