Catherine McManus

Hello to my friends and Alan's friends. 

Australia has one of the highest rates of melanoma in the world. Melanoma is often referred to as “Australia’s national cancer”.

As you all know, Alan's battle with Melanoma was a short, one sided fight with the cancer spreading quickly and the Immuno Therapy having no impact at all.  

With the statement "There was nothing you could do" weighing on my mind and the knowledge that many other people are losing their fight with melanoma, I have decided to turn my family's loss into a positive.  

I have joined "The Larapinta Trek" which is a fundraising activity. This is something I CAN do.  All money raised will go to the Melanoma Institute, specifically to research into what is called "Rapid Progression" research.

The Trek leaves from the old Alice Springs Telegraph Station, heads to the Peak of Mount Sonder and returns to Alice Springs.  The trek is approximately 80km long over five days. I will walk from 7am to 3pm each day covering between 5km to 20km a day, depending on terrain. I will be surrounded by the most amazing scenery that only the Australian outback has.  I have begun my walking training.  Getting up at 6am and not eating from lunch time to dinner time are my greatest challenges. But, keeping things in perspective, this is easy compared to fighting melanoma.

The Trek is the 17th to 23rd September. I have joined this Trek at the end of registrations and so I urgently need your help to meet the fundraising target.

The link for donations is attached, all donations will be receipted and donations over $2 are tax deductible.  Please give a donation some thought and get it in as soon as possible, when you decide to donate is the best time to act, by the end of August if possible.

Your donation is to further research to improve melanoma treatment and ultimately to find a cure.

I thank all of you for your support and prayers and for taking the time to consider my request.  

God bless

Cathy McManus