March for Melanoma comes to Geraldton in memory of Brigades clubman Jason O’Brien, with the help of family

Much-loved community identity and Brigades Football Club president Jason O’Brien lost his life to melanoma at the age of just 47, but his family is determined his legacy will live on. They will host Geraldton’s first Melanoma March along the Geraldton foreshore on Sunday in his memory and to raise funds and awareness of the cancer. Mr O’Brien had a melanoma cut out of his back at age 22, which ended up spreading to his brain later in life — and ultimately claimed the father of three’s life in August 2021, 25 years after his initial diagnosis. His daughter Telisha tells his story as one which displays the true impact of a community, with his beloved football club supporting the O’Brien family throughout his cancer battle. The family travelled to Perth last year to attend the Melanoma March alongside friends and loved ones in memory of her dad. The march campaign has been running for 13 years nationally. “We wanted to bring it back up so people didn’t have to travel to Perth for it. We had a lot of family who wanted to do it,” Ms O’Brien, who has been working on bringing the event to Geraldton for the past 12 months, said. The march is a 5km walk starting at Edith Cowan Square and finishing at the Horizon Ball, with tickets available at $40 for adults and $20 for kids, but children under five are free. Funds will go towards the treatment and research of melanoma. “Dad was an active member of Brigades Football Club and they are getting behind the march, along with Toyota Geraldton who have kindly kickstarted our efforts with a $5000 sponsorship,” Ms O’Brien said. Ms O’Brien said the glamourisation of tanning in Australia needed to change. “I think with social media, people are easily influenced to think that’s the normal thing,” she said. Often referred to as the “national cancer”, Australia has the highest rates of melanoma in the world. According to the Melanoma Institute of Australia, it is expected 16,800 people will be diagnosed with melanoma this year and an estimated 1300 will die. Professor Georgina Long and Professor Richard Scolyer were named 2024 Australians of the Year for revolutionising melanoma treatment and their advocacy for sun-safe behaviour. They are urging people to get behind the fundraising march and to stop the glamourisation of tanning. “There is nothing healthy about a tan. Nothing. Our bronzed Aussie culture is actually killing us,” Professor Long said. The Geraldton event is expected to gather around 100 people on the day, with registrations able to be made online.