Bright Star Ball Shone A Light On Don
On the 19th of October Beryl Fell marked the 10th anniversary of the passing of her husband Don from melanoma with another fantastic Bright Star Ball.
The Bright Star Ball 2019 was not only held in honour of Don but also all those who have lost their battle with melanoma, and anyone whose life has been affected by skin cancer. This year was the fifth Bright Star Ball in support of the Victoria Melanoma Service, and the balls have contributed $50,000 towards vital melanoma research. This year’s ball alone raised almost $20,000!
The loss of her husband and father of her children led Beryl to become an advocate for skin cancer and melanoma and has spurred her to support the medical teams and scientists that are continuously working on ways to prevent and find a cure for melanoma.
For the past 10 years Beryl has supported the Victoria Melanoma Service (VMS) at The Alfred, by holding the Bright Star Ball. All funds raised support research to find a cure.
The support shown by family, friends, clinicians, sponsors and the general public for the Bright Star Ball and the VMS at The Alfred has been tremendous. Beryl has worked tirelessly to support VMS over the years and this year marked the last Bright Star Ball.
On behalf of everyone at the VMS and at The Alfred, The Alfred Foundation would like to sincerely thank Beryl and all her supporters for all their hard work and tremendous fundraising efforts. Beryl, you have helped make a remarkable difference. You have celebrated Don’s life, and the lives of others that have been lost to cancer, in a wonderful way.
The Bright Star Ball this year was packed with fun and included a silent auction, a live auction, door prizes and a raffle. The brilliant live band kicked off and straight away guests were strutting their stuff dancing!
Melanoma is the most malignant form of skin cancer, and unfortunately Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. In Victoria alone, 2,100 people are diagnosed with melanoma each year. Being outdoors is part of our active Aussie lifestyle, however continued exposure to UV radiation damages skin cells and greatly increases the risk of melanoma—this is a type of cancer that doesn’t discriminate and it can affect people from all walks of life.
The VMS at The Alfred is Victoria’s first and largest multidisciplinary treatment service for melanoma. Together, experts in dermatology, pathology, plastic surgery, surgical oncology, medical oncology and radiation oncology formulate a treatment plan for each individual patient according to their needs and preferences. The VMS helps patients to make informed decisions about their own treatment and care.
Thank you Beryl you truly are a star!
