Meters for Melanoma - Swimming Loch Earn

10 years ago I fulfilled a life long dream of successfully swimming the English Channel. To mark this anniversary, I am returning to the U.K to swim the length of Loch Earn, Scotland. A much shorter distance of 10km than my channel crossing of 48km; colder water of 11 degrees as opposed to 16/17 degrees; fresh water as opposed to saltwater. The goal I have set myself is not only to mark my channel anniversary and to take me back to my dear Dad's homeland who played such a significant role in my swimming career but to raise awareness and funds for Melanoma Tasmania. 5 years ago, a routine skin check saw a suspicious "freckle" which looked perfectly normal to the naked eye be biopsied. Having had numerous basal cell carcinomas and the occasional squamous cell carcinomas removed over the years, the word "melanoma" did not enter my head. We all think we are invincible and it won't happen to us. A phone call from my specialist days later revealed a malignant melanoma diagnosis. I had to go in for surgery to remove the melanoma and its surrounding margins and then wait for further results to see what the prognosis was. I was one of the lucky ones and know that now. Because of my routine skin checks, it was picked up before it had permeated the deeper layers of the skin and was fully removed. Melanoma Tasmania aims to educate, promote, and provide awareness and support for those affected by this form of cancer. In Tasmania alone, 290 cases of Melanoma are diagnosed each year. It is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and fourth in men. The incidence of melanoma in women in Tasmania is higher than the national average. In Tasmania, we lose 1 person a week to Melanoma. Please support my campaign by donating to Melanoma Tasmania so that together we can work towards reducing these statistics and support those here in our own State.