Can grief become purpose? Absolutely. It’s exactly what happened when family and friends of the late Stan Evans, led by his widow Wendy, decided to honour his life in a way that would make a lasting difference in the fight to beat melanoma.
The UK crew raised £1,500 (around $2,900 AUD) to purchase a dermatoscope to donate to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH). The much-needed piece of equipment was presented by Wendy Evans to Dr Jennifer Garioch and Sally Wade, a skin-cancer specialist nurse, last week.
This powerful act of generosity means clinicians at NNUH now have another vital tool to help diagnose melanoma earlier, potentially saving countless lives.
What is a dermatoscope? (and why it matters)
A dermatoscope is a handheld device that allows doctors to examine skin lesions in greater detail. It enhances the visibility of pigment and vascular structures beneath the skin’s surface, helping clinicians identify suspicious moles and detect melanoma at their very early stages when treatment is most effective.
According to Cancer Australia, an estimated 17,500 Australians will be diagnosed with melanoma in 2025. Two in three will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70. And melanoma remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among young Australians aged 20–39.
With upwards of 90% of melanomas being curable with surgery alone if they are caught early enough, every skin check is a potential life saved.
From loss to legacy
Stan Evans knew the pain melanoma can bring. His son, Neil Evans, passed away from the disease in 2021 and in the years that followed, Stan became a passionate supporter of melanoma awareness and fundraising.
Since he passed away in June this year, on the fourth anniversary of his son Neil’s own passing, Stan’s family and friends have turned their grief into helping others.
As Wendy Evans said at the recent hospital presentation, the donation is about keeping both Stan’s and Neil’s memories alive and ensuring others benefit from what their family has endured.
It should also act as a reminder for us all that early detection doesn’t just depend on science; it depends on continued awareness raising and community action.
And while this story may have originated in the UK, at Beat Melanoma, we celebrate stories like this because they remind us what unites us all—no matter where we live—in the global fight against melanoma.
Together, we can transform loss into legacy, awareness into action, and hope into healing.
Inspired? Make a donation and together, we can beat melanoma, for good!
