Ahead of his challenging yet inspiring journey, melanoma survivor Jay Allen stopped by Lilli Pilli Public School on Monday to share his story of survival with pupils - including with one young boy who shares a similar painful experience.
The melanoma awareness advocate was at the primary school as part of his campaign with Melanoma Institute Australia called Jay’s Longest Melanoma March.
The resident from Bowral made his way to Sutherland Shire before his 50-day 2000 kilometre journey.
On March 31 he will walk from Adelaide to Sydney, and will make a stop at Sutherland on day 48 (May 17).
During the walk, Mr Allen and other melanoma survivors and their loves ones will unite together to join him in fighting the disease.
He has been training for his upcoming event with former Sharks player, Luke Lewis.
The invitation to meet pupils at the school was particularly special for Tom Beaumont, 8, whose mother Melinda died of stage 4 melanoma on Christmas Eve in 2018. Tom's sister Summah found a mole on her mother's scalp while braiding her hair.
More than $9000 has been raised for Mr Allen's journey.
He spoke about the importance of sun safety and shared some stark statistics with children.
Australia has one of the highest rates of melanoma in the world. The disease is responsible for 75 per cent of all skin cancer deaths, and is the most common cancer in 15-39 year-olds. The incidence in people aged older than 60 is also increasing.
But if detected early, 90 per cent of melanomas can with successfully treated with surgery.
Mr Allen was 32 years of age when he was diagnosed.
The former truck driver found an unusual mole on his ankle that kept rubbing on his work boots, and bleeding.
It turned out to be a 1.95mm deep melanoma that had spread to his lymph nodes. Eleven years on, he is fighting fit.
"I knew Melinda and she was such a beautiful lady," he said. "She wanted to help achieve a cure.
"This march is all about three things.
"Firstly, it is about people who have been affected by melanoma coming together in support, solidarity and positivity.
"Secondly, it is about raising awareness of this deadly disease and the need to be sun safe and to get regular skin checks.
"Thirdly, it's about raising funds in support of Melanoma Institute Australia’s research to finally eliminate this awful disease.”
"When one of our families experiences a loss we will always rally together to support them," school principal Jane Shepherd said.
"We want our children to be the leaders in our community to help with prevention and support into research and to show them how one person can really make a difference."