City Beach Man a Star Supporter

July 20th, 2007 - Media Statement

City Beach resident Ian Dorrington's long scar above his knee serves as a daily reminder of his close call with melanoma and drives his motivation to support a local research group investigating the deadly cancer.

Spending much of his youth in the water or on the beach, Mr Dorrington thought that skin cancer was "something oldies got" but, after noticing an unusual mole on his knee at 27 years of age, a niggling thought took him off to his GP.

"After the biopsy results came through, it was like the doctor greeted me at the door with the scalpel in hand, because everything went that fast. One minute I was walking into the surgery, the next I was limping out with 30 stitches," he said.

"I realised how big a deal it was when my mum burst into tears on the phone. It was then that I recognised how easily this could have killed me. I was lucky."

Mr Dorrington has been a strong supporter of the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research-based Scott Kirkbride Melanoma Research Centre since its inception in March 2005.

He and his stockbroking firm DJ Carmichael were one of the corporate sponsors which contributed to the Centre's fundraising race day earlier this year.

"I hope the SKMRC can eventually find a cure for skin cancer, but in the meantime I hope we can lift community awareness and tell more people about how dangerous melanoma is, which could prompt them to get a check up and save their life," Mr Dorrington said.

"I urge other people and businesses to get behind the Centre and its fundraising efforts, because the work they do is vital to saving lives now and in the future."

Together with 720 ABC Perth, the Centre will host a fundraising quiz night on Thursday September 20th. Tables will be made up of eight and tickets are $20 per person.

To book your place, please call (08) 9224 0333.

The SKMRC was established in memory of Scott Kirkbride, a young Mt Claremont man who died from melanoma at the age of 27.

The Centre has been made possible through fundraising efforts by the Kirkbride family, their friends and a generous commitment by The University of WA.

For more information please contact:
Natalie Papadopoulos
Media Consultant for the WA Institute for Medical Research
Mobile: 0407 984 435
Office: (08) 9388 9280