Duncraig Man's Cancer Experiences Spark $100,000 Charitable Gain

February 18th, 2010 - Media Statement

The devastating experience of seeing loved ones pass away from cancer, as well as personal experience with skin cancer, has spurred a Duncraig man to raise more than $100,000 for melanoma research in just three years.

Peter Collins is again helping coordinate the Scott Kirkbride Melanoma Research Centre's (SKMRC) annual fundraising social day on Saturday February 27 at Ascot Racecourse - the fourth year he has run it.

Mr Collins said the passing of close family friend Scott Kirkbride from skin cancer had made this a cause close to his heart.

"I've have a lot of personal experience with cancer over the last 30 years, I lost my mother to the disease many years ago, many friends from cancer, then Scott lost his battle with melanoma at such a young age and I've personally had a number of basal cell carcinomas removed myself," he said.

Part of the Nedlands-based Western Australian Institute for Medical Research (WAIMR), the SKMRC was established in 2005 in memory of Scott Kirkbride, who died from melanoma at the age of 27.

"There is such a high incidence of skin cancer in Western Australia because so many kids grow up outdoors, which is why it's so essential to get the message out there to young Aussies about the importance of protecting themselves from skin cancer," Mr Collins said.

"Spending a lot of time in the sun can come back to haunt you and I count myself lucky that while I've had many small, common skin cancers cut out, thankfully they have not threatened my life."

"The work the Centre does is so important in helping to save the lives of many Western Australians, assisting with their fundraising efforts is a worthy cause - last year's event raised more than $30,000."

Mr Collins hoped SKMRC researchers would uncover new melanoma risk factors that could alert people who may not have otherwise thought they were in danger to take preventative action earlier.

"While the Race Day is a great day out, it's also an important event to push the skin cancer prevention message to everyone attending," he said.

"Because it's the skin cancer most likely to affect 15 to 39 year olds, we're really hopeful that young people will get a group together and come and support this event."

The Centre's founder and Scott's mother Yvonne Kirkbride said the charity event had been so successful in previous years that it had become a major event on Perth's summer calendar.

"Feedback we've had from the past three years has been incredibly positive, the race day is an amazing, fast-paced and very social day, and is one of the most rewarding activities on the summer calendar," she said.

Entry is $50 and prizes include interstate trips and a motor scooter. Tickets can be purchased by phoning (08) 9224 0333 or from Spectator Sport in Claremont, and Jim Kidd Sports stores in Perth, Harbour Town, Morley, Fremantle, Mandurah, Cockburn and Clarkson.

For more information please contact:
Carolyn Monaghan
Communications Manager
Mobile: 0448 021 932 (media enquiries only)
Office: (08) 9224 0377