Kaylah on a mission to raise melanoma awareness

By Gabriel Garcia

Nov 14, 2022

Awareness raised: Kaylah Brown, Maeve Bamford, aged 5, and Australian Skin Cancer Foundation founder Jay Allen at Trikki Kidz on Friday. Photo by Contributed

Cobram resident Kaylah Brown was at several Cobram schools on Friday, November 11 to raise awareness about melanoma and the Canberra to Sydney walk as part of Jay’s Mission Melanoma Walk which starts later this month.

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Mrs Brown visited St Joseph’s Primary School, Barooga Primary School, Cobram Primary School and Trikki Kidz.

Mrs Brown is doing everything in her power to raise awareness of the devastating cancer which took the life of her brother Matthew Smith Vaughan when he was 38 years old.

Prior to her brother’s diagnosis she admits she knew little about the cancer.

“Not to the extent I know now, that's for sure,” Mrs Brown said.

She has joined forces with Australian Skin Cancer Foundation founder Jay Allen OAM, and the driving force behind Jay’s Mission Melanoma Walk.

Rousing speech: Jay Allen speaking to the students at St Joseph’s Primary School. Photo by Contributed

Mr Allen was diagnosed with stage three melanoma in February 2008 as a side effect from lymphedema.

It was through having lymphedema that Mr Allen came up with the idea of a walk.

“I tried swimming and it helped a little bit but walking pretty much reduced the swelling,” Mr Allen said.

Mr Allen has since completed three walks to raise money for melanoma research and cure.

A 2014 walk from Sydney to Melbourne raised $160,000, in 2017; another walk from Brisbane to Sydney raised $250,000 and a third walk, Adelaide to Sydney, in 50 days, raised a further $606,000.

Mrs Brown will join Mr Allen and several others who have been directly affected by melanoma for his fourth walk from Canberra to Sydney after meeting him while he supported her brother.

Cobram community support for Mrs Brown has been universal.

The popular Hungie Fangs Artisan Bakery is dedicating its doughnut sales on Saturday, November 19 towards Jay’s Mission Melanoma Walk.

Her family and friends have also been a great source of support.

“My mother was nervous at first but very supportive at the same time,” Mrs Brown said.

The journey will begin on Friday, November 25 from Parliament House in Canberra with Federal Education Minister Jason Clare and terminal melanoma patient Hayley Bourke seeing them off.

The walk will end on Sunday, December 4 at Government House in Sydney where where they will be greeted by NSW Governor Margaret Beazley AC QC.

On a mission: Jay Allen, Kaylah Brown and Felicia Kelf will take part in Jay’s Mission Melanoma Walk. Photo by Gabriel Garcia

Anyone wishing to join the permanent walkers for part of the journey can sign up.

Mrs Brown’s friend Felicia Kelf has already signed up to do half the walk.

Reflecting on the journey ahead and the journey she has been on, Mrs Brown said the death of her brother was a devastating turning point in her life.

“It’s changed me in a lot of ways, nothing is going to ever be the same again,” Mrs Brown said.

“My brother lost his fight but I’ll keep fighting for him and everyone else.”

Part of that fight involves joining Mr Allen as he raised awareness among the school students of Cobram on how to be safe in the sun via his five sun safety rules.