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Today is December 1, the first page of the summer calendar for Australians and a season most of us embrace excitedly as we gear up for time with friends and family, many of us poolside or at the beach. For Australians, this season is synonymous with fun, festivity, and our uniquely laid-back lifestyle.

It’s also the second anniversary of the launch of Neil Evans Melanoma Foundation (NEMF) and Salute The Sun. On this day in 2021, just a few short months after Neil’s passing in June after a long and painful battle with melanoma, we gathered at sunrise in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens for the ‘official’ launch of the foundation that was created in Neil’s honour to help provide financial support to melanoma patients when they need it the most.

“This unique celebration is Neil’s vital legacy,” said NEMF Founder and Neil’s partner, Sonia Nazaretian, “born out of a collective desire to embrace the beauty of life and the healing power of sunlight, while raising awareness of the life-threatening dangers of exposure to the sun.”

“In Australia, a staggering 95% of melanomas are caused by sun damage. Exposure to UV light is – literally – life-threatening. Yet so many of us take it for granted.”

“Melanoma treatment is expensive and many melanoma patients are struggling financially. In working together with Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA), we are helping alleviate the stress of accessing potentially life-saving cancer treatments, new treatment options, or even help with short-term accommodation and other services, at a time of great need for those who need it.”

Patients like 21-year-old Martina Duleska, whose life changed in a nano-second when she learned she had Stage III melanoma and who turned to NEMF, with the help of the MIA, for help to pay for a medication to help treat a side-effect from her cancer treatment, that wasn’t covered by the PBS.

Two years on, Salute The Sun and the work of NEMF have grown beyond their initial roots into a nationwide movement. What began as a simple idea to officially ‘launch’ NEMF in tandem with a collective sunrise yoga practice, has evolved into a powerful reminder that, no matter what challenges life throws our way, there is always room for gratitude and appreciation.

As little as $30 can help change a life.

MAKE A DONATION TODAY.