Join Team Caloundra at the Melanoma March on 31st March!

Caloundra Chamber of Commerce are getting behind the Melanoma March to help raise funds towards a national melanoma research project to save lives.

Our Member Services and Events Manager Susan Toft has decided to shave her head if we can reach our fundraising goal of $2500.

Susan tells us her story of why she wanted to get involved:

"I actually have a skin cancer on the top of my head that my doctor confirmed late last year. It is a slow growing (BCC) skin cancer but it's been there for a few years and is now rather large (over 1cm). As it is covered by my hair, despite having regular checks the last few years, doctors did not find it, and I only came across it as I had a lump in that spot that I went back to get checked again. I'm now waiting for surgery at the hospital to have it removed and will have to have a large part of my hair shaved for the procedure.

When the doctor first told me I was fairly mortified at the prospect of losing part of my hair. But after having some time to think about it I realise this is totally superficial and I'm grateful it is not something more serious and is really more of an inconvenience than anything else.

This is not my first skin cancer. I've had three skin cancers removed from my face and shoulder, always resulting in a larger scar than I would have expected. I have regular checks, cover up and stay out of the sun but they still keep appearing! The good thing now though is that I know what to look for and so head straight to the doctor whenever I see something coming up so I can treat it with creams rather than surgery!

While the thought of shaving my head is very daunting, I wanted to help raise awareness of the importance of having regular skin checks and at the same time help raise money for the more serious of skin cancers."

The Chamber has put together Team Caloundra to do the Melanoma walk. We'd love you to join us on the walk, or if you can't make it donate to our team and help us reach our goal of raising $2500!

Click 'Donate Now' to make a secure online donation.

Thanks so much for your support!

Caloundra Chamber of Commerce