I first became aware of Jay and his amazing work when my sister Kim was first diagnosed with Stage 3 melanoma in 2015
...Since then, I have been pleased to support Jay in his numerous events and fundraisers to find a cure for melanoma, most recently as a member of the organising committee for Jay’s Longest Melanoma March. Jay is an inspiration to all those around him, especially the large melanoma patient community he has established. His care and concern for anyone impacted by melanoma, whether they be patients, family members, clinicians or researchers is obvious and has led to him having an extremely loyal following.
Lisa Hanlon
I first met Jay in 2013, sadly after losing my incredible Dad to this hideous disease, he was our special guest
...at one of our charity events held at the Rollonin Cafe he shared his inspirational story and the importance of regular skin check-ups and continues supporting us in every way.
My brother Richard and I participated and was proud to walk alongside Jay in Jay’s Longest Melanoma March in 2017 and 2019 and to see him in action wow what can I say, he’s dedication is outstanding and believe it will remain the same.
Jay has built something special that I have witnessed over the years, he has created this wonderful Melanoma Community where everyone supports each other in the good and bad days. My family have met so many beautiful people affected by Melanoma that we are proud to our call friends, you get to hear their heartfelt stories and talk about things you have in common and never feel alone. This is due to a champion bloke The Melanoma Man, that I can highly recommend.
The Australian Melanoma Community is so very lucky to have you, supporting us in every way. Thank you for raising awareness, thank you for raising funds, thank you for all your caring love and support and doing what you can. Keep up the awesome work Jay!
Kim Barton
I was diagnosed with Stage 3 melanoma in August 2014 and Stage 4 in February 2015. I was only 26, extremely scared, nervous and worried...My clinical nurse advised me to talk Jay Allen, a stage 3 melanoma survivor himself. Talking with Jay gave me hope and inspiration that I could beat melanoma as well.
Whenever I went to Sydney for treatment Jay would always make time for me and we would catch up to see how things were going for me. Talking to someone like Jay who had been through a similar Journey really helped me as I knew he understood what life was like for a melanoma patient. Having known Jay for 6 years, I have seen the inspiration he has provided to all those affected by melanoma and his determination to put an end to melanoma.
It takes a special kind of person like Jay to achieve what he has when it comes to melanoma, getting solariums banned in Australia, walking from Adelaide to Sydney over 2000km and other walks in order to raise money for melanoma research.
Grant Lawrence
I first met Jay in 2015 when I had just been diagnosed with a melanoma on my left calf...Jay, having had a melanoma on the same leg but 7 years prior, understood what I was feeling and what I was about to go through. His support was so important to my family and I in a time of such uncertainty.
Over the years Jay has become a great friend. His determination to find a cure and his passion to support others inspires me. It’s been a privilege to join him on many of his fundraising marches.
I’m now a 5 year melanoma survivor. But in 2018 I was diagnosed with brain cancer. Jay was in the room with me that day. Once again he has been a tremendous source of strength and positivity throughout my journey. Keep up the good work mate!
Laurie Thompson
Jay Allen met my brother Ian Brown in 2010 at a melanoma support group in Liverpool. Ian had stage 4 melanoma at this time
...after he found a lump under his arm which turned out to be Melanoma in his lymph nodes. Ian also had melanoma on the back of his knee and then had a lump on his chest. My family and I were unfortunately unaware how bad Ian’s melanoma was and he kept a lot from us.
However, I am happy that Ian had great support with his friend Jay and others in the melanoma support group, we were not aware that Ian was even going to the melanoma support group for some time. During Ian’s time in the Melanoma support group he was passionate about raising awareness and funds to help find a cure for melanoma. He attended many awareness days out in the community with Jay and many Bunnings barbecues.
Unfortunately Ian’s Melanoma spread to his lungs, spleen and liver and he was then accepted on a Clinical trial at Westmead.
Jay and Ian become very close and Jay took Ian to Queensland in July 2011 to the State of Origin this was the same time Ian started his treatment. They hadn’t booked anywhere to stay in Queensland at the airport and with luck on there side they met NRL great Arthur Beetson at the airport. When he heard of Ian’s diagnosis and they were going to the game, Arthur asked Ian and Jay to stay at his house. They had a brilliant time with one of the greatest league players and were shown Memorabilia. Arthur then asked them to go to breakfast the next day with Tommy.
Ian and Jay were thrilled as it was Tommy Raudonikis. They were both very excited and had breakfast with two legends. During that time Jay did an interview with Ian that we treasure today so much. The video shows Ian’s melanoma tumours had gone all except one inactive small tumour.
Two months after this in September 2011, unfortunately Ian’s melanoma reoccurred with a vengeance and had now spread to his brain. Although Ian was unwell, Jay again organised for Ian to see his favourite football team at training, Parramatta Eels, Jay had also organised through his contacts for ch 9 news to be there to cover this story. They interviewed Ian about his melanoma and filmed the whole meeting his favourite team and he was so excited to meet his idol Nathan Himarsh.
Unfortunately Ian passed away on 02 October 2011 which was devastating to our family. This didn’t stop Jay as he was so kind to our family during Ian’s passing it was him who worked for many hours into the night working on the video to be played at Ian’s service. This video is still played today every year on Ian’s birthday.
I still participate in the Melanoma support group that Jay runs and He continues to help me and my family with dealings with after our loss even today 9 years later.
Jay continues honouring Ian during his many melanoma walks to raise funds and awareness.
Jay also went out of his way for me as I was on dialyse waiting to be put on the transplant list. He come to one of my Nephrologist appointments and pushed for me to get on that list as for many months they kept ignoring my calls to be added. As I had a living donor and was just waiting for approval to go ahead with a transplant and I wasn’t doing well on dialyse and my health was detracting. It was Jay who pushed for me at this appointment and really went out of his way for myself and my family to make it happen.
A month later I was put on the kidney transplant list and could then begin being tested for a kidney transplant, my donor was my sister and we were a very good match.
Jay come to the hospital the day of my transplant May 2014, and It was such a special day as it was the beginning of my new life, from sickness and given a diagnosis of death to now being able to live a normal healthy live and give back to life.
Jay has always to this day been a very special life time friend to my family and I can never thank him enough for giving Ian such special memories and support time during his last moments of his life. It makes me happy to know that Ian had such a wonderful supportive friend to be there for him as Ian didn’t want to upset his our family with his diagnosis.” So had Jay to talk to.
Helen Brown
I was diagnosed stage 3 Melanoma in June 2011 in England, I decided to move back to Sydney to be under the care of the Melanoma Institute Australia
...as I was filled with fear of it coming back – 50% chance – not great odds in my book. Through MIA I kept hearing the name Jay Allen – a fellow stage 3 patient, One day I found the courage to send him an email and introduce myself.
Almost immediately he wrote back and organised to meet me at Circular Quay for a green tea before work! We hit it off instantly, he put me at ease about my diagnosis and made me feel like I wasn’t alone. He became a great mate. Over the years I’ve volunteered with him participating in videos, events and walks – he has been the champion of so many different fund raising and awareness campaigns as well as support groups. His network of melanoma mates has grown so much but despite a busy life, a young family and a career he always finds time to connect with every one of his melanoma mates. His compassion to every single person going through this journey is inspiring.
Unfortunately my worst fears were realised in November 2017 when I found out I’d relapsed – and it was very serious. Jay once again was on the end of the phone, reminding me of all the hope and supporting me through what was ahead. Thankfully I got the all clear and am very healthy and happy now. I still call Jay with any news I have, every scan result I make sure I tell Jay because he has a way of making you feel so special for getting through a tough journey.
Louise Sherwood
Father’s Day breakfast 2011 fundraiser for Melanoma research on the Central Coast is the day my hope went to a higher level...This was the day I met Jay. He encouraged me to share my Stage IV Melanoma story in public and from that moment I felt supported.
He facilitated the first support group on the coast that I was a huge part of and brought so many people going through the same together. Soon after moving to the Gold Coast I endured another reoccurrence of disease was a part of a drug trial with fortnightly infusions in Sydney. Jay would pick me up from the airport on his way to work and take me back often after receiving my results.
He also shared a few appointments by my side, sometimes with tears in his eyes.He has truly made all the difference to myself and my family to get us through some very tough times.
Jenny Thulborn
I’ve known and worked with Jay for several years now. Jay is a passionate supporter of patients with melanoma and also a very successful fundraiser...He has amassed a large collection of supporters and friends from all walks of life. In a typical year, you may find Jay walking from Sydney to Melbourne to raise funds for Melanoma Institute Australia, facilitating the many patient support groups he runs, giving an awareness talk to a school or organizing a golf day fundraiser.
Jay knows the consequences of melanoma all too well, so every day he is 100% committed to achieving the best result for the people who matter most, the patients. Jay was recently awarded “Patient Advocate of the Year” at the National Melanoma Awards in Brisbane for his outstanding contribution to patient care and support.
Tony Locke
I have known Jay for almost 10 years now. When I met Jay for the very first time he greeted me with his enormous smile and warmth...I had just found out about my diagnosis of stage 4 melanoma and he assured me that I was safe and in great hands. How true to his word. My horrendous, painful journey lead to a friendship like no other with Jay. He simply would appear from nowhere knowing I was having a bad day. He’d ring my husband almost every night on his way home to see if I was ok. One day when I was in hospital, I was so scared and so fed up with life he turned up and held my hand while I just cried and cried whilst he too was crying with me.
With his busy schedule and wonderful wife and family, he manages to make time for his real comrades in fighting this horrible disease . He truly has helped me and supported my whole family through my long ordeal. He really is a fantastic guy who has endless amounts of commitment in fighting melanoma. His word and handshake are his honourable truths. I’m honoured to know Jay let alone be his sister in arms. He is an asset to melanoma in fighting for awareness in this disease.He’s a strong and stoic man. My journey would never have been the same without Jay.
Ruth Davey
Jay is a legend! We have worked on multiple projects together for 8 years. Fundraising & awareness are our specialties...His energy and passion are infectious and when he sets his massive goals (that many tell him “are not possible”) he knows and has shown many times that with the right people supporting him HE CAN achieve anything.
I am glad to be a support to Jay and am thankful that he is so committed to helping educate and save lives in this country.
Raphael McGowan
Jay has a wonderful and rare ability to be able to genuinely connect to people across all different backgrounds...Over the years and the course of his own journey with melanoma he has been able to redirect the energy that he was consuming in anxiety and fear towards a passion to help others. He has successfully raised not only lots of funds and awareness, but has nurtured and harnessed a community that spans continents, to create a wide reaching space that provides much needed support and comradeship amongst both patients and carers. He provides leadership, support and guidance to many, whilst at the same time staying real and open about his own fears and anxiety. His passion and drive are insatiable, always trying to help more, reach further. He once told me i’m just a truck driver, trying to make a life with my (then) girlfriend (now wife), I don’t think he truly realises the impact he has had and continues to have as he strives to make not only his life but the lives of so many others better, more bearable – he’s one of a kind and I for one am so proud and so pleased to know him.
Angela Cotroneo
I knew of Jay, The Melanoma Man and followed him online when I had two melanomas on my skin but then I progressed to stage 4...Jay was there straight away when I was diagnosed and took my Mum and I for a coffee, his compassion and empathy is amazing. I have been friends with Jay ever since and he has been an incredible support throughout my 3 year Melanoma journey so far. He works tirelessly for us patients as an advocate and completely “gets it” as he’s a patient himself. The way he brings us all together is incredible, he always has time for anyone in need and he’s the most down to earth understanding guy. Honestly, I’d be lost and afraid without him, the people I’ve met through him and the support he has given. Because of all this as well as his incredible fundraising efforts walking great lengths of Australia, Jay really is our true life super hero.
