A powerful new fundraising campaign is offering Australians the chance to win a life-changing $50,000 in gold bullion, while directly contributing to the urgent fight against the nation's most deadly skin cancer. The Australian Skin Cancer Foundation (ASCF) has launched the raffle to fuel its mission of preventing melanoma deaths, a disease that still claims one Australian life every six hours.
The Critical Mission Behind the Gold Prize
Founded in 2021 by melanoma survivor and Order of Australia medal recipient Jay Allen OAM, the non-profit ASCF is driven by a stark reality. Despite advances in treatment, immunotherapy trials show a success rate of only about 50 to 60 per cent. "There's that 40 to 50 per cent of people that treatment does not work for, and those people are sadly dying," Jay Allen stated. "We just need to keep funding research - research means hope."
The foundation's work is already making a tangible impact. Since launching Australia's first mobile skin-check truck in 2023, and the world's first mobile unit equipped with a 3D Vectra skin-check machine and biopsy room in December 2025, the ASCF has visited 163 towns, completed 14,000 full-body skin checks, and identified 178 suspected melanomas.
Taking Free Skin Checks on the Road
Fundraising is the lifeblood that keeps these vital services running. "We need to keep our trucks on the road, and your support can help us save lives - one truck stop at a time," Allen emphasised. The mobile clinics provide free skin cancer checks in workplaces, remote areas, and rural towns, addressing critical gaps in healthcare access.
The foundation's vision is ambitious and clear: to have a free mobile skin-check clinic in every state and territory across Australia. "We want to have mobile skin-check clinics across every state and territory so nobody ever has to pay for a skin check, and access is right at their doorstep," Allen explained.
How You Can Help Change the Statistics
The new raffle represents a direct way for the public to contribute. Tickets are priced at just $10 each, with only 25,000 available. The draw will close on February 17, 2026, unless sold out earlier. All proceeds will fund the mobile clinic operations, melanoma research, and the ongoing quest for a cure.
This initiative builds on the foundation's established fundraising efforts, including the regular Mission Melanoma Walk, where Jay Allen has trekked over 10,000 kilometres to raise awareness and funds. The campaign is a poignant reminder of the human cost of melanoma, highlighted by the recent passing of supporter Hayley Bourke, just six weeks after participating in a walk with Allen and the Governor of NSW.
By purchasing a ticket, Australians are not just entering a draw for a golden prize but are investing in a future where melanoma deaths are drastically reduced. The message from the foundation is one of collective action: changing the tragic statistic of one death every six hours is within reach, but it requires sustained support and funding.
