'My mum battled melanoma for 7 years. Here's what I want you to know.'

Thanks to our brand partner, HBF

There are a lot of ways Kate Tills could describe her mum Sally, but the first thing that comes to mind is that she loved being alive. 

"She was really spontaneous, a huge lover of life. Nothing was a big deal for her. She didn't take life seriously at all."

"She loved hiking, renovating her house and staying active — she was always full of energy and lived a healthy life," Kate told Mamamia.

Her mum's melanoma diagnosis in 2017 was already a huge shock, so when a routine appointment last year turned into a nightmare, it was even more devastating. After battling melanoma for seven years, Sally was given a prognosis of only two months left to live.

"We went for a normal check-up appointment and they just told us the cancer had spread. I still can't even think about it. It was so unexpected, we just did not see it coming. Initially, I thought, 'We'll be fine; we're going to get through it; there's no other option', but there was nothing really more we could do. She had fought as hard as she could."

Despite everything, Kate said she's thankful she had the opportunity to spend those last two months cherishing her beautiful mum.

"We made it a really special two months with her," Kate said.

Image: Supplied.

"We were really grateful to have that time, but it was really hard. She never would have wanted us to see her like that. She wouldn't have wanted us to see her deteriorate. The biggest struggle for her was losing her ability to walk — that was crushing for her because that's what she enjoyed the most."

Sally's diagnosis is what inspired Kate to run the Brooks Half Marathon as part of HBF Run For A Reason. This event gives participants a platform to raise awareness and funds for a charity close to their heart — and for Kate that was the Melanoma Institute.

"I was sitting with Mum when I mentioned that I should raise some money for the Melanoma Institute. Being really active, I figured running a half-marathon would be easy. At first, my target was small, but it quickly took off. I hadn't done much beyond setting up a page and running, but it showed just how much of a special impact Mum had on so many people."

Kate surprised herself by raising almost $13,000 for melanoma research.

"I trained a little bit and I raised a huge amount. It makes a world of difference to people."

This year's HBF Run for a Reason is happening on Sunday, May 25. Tragically, where she once wanted a positive, hopeful outlet while her mum was fighting melanoma, she is now running in Sally's memory.

Image: Supplied.

Kate said one of the things that surprised her most about her mum's illness was how incredible modern-day medicine is and how much it changed even over Sally's seven-year battle with cancer.

"The trial that originally saved her wasn't even available when she was first diagnosed. Doctors are doing so much research and making so many breakthroughs — there are constantly new things coming out to cure or manage melanoma."

"It's those incredible medical developments that make HBF Run for a Reason so important," Kate said.

"The things I am fundraising for are the things that saved Mum."

Kate's takeaway message for anyone considering the HBF Run for a Reason is that there's something for everyone, no matter their personal cause. Participants can choose to walk or run the CommBank 3km, the SpecSavers 12km or the Brooks Half Marathon.

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"21 kilometres is nothing compared to what Mum did. Sure, it's tricky and challenging but when you put it in perspective, it doesn't come close. If I raise some money for these fighters then it's so easy."

The loss of Kate's mum is still fresh, and she's very much still processing its impact on herself and her family. 

"It doesn't feel real. It's still so raw — it's very bizarre. I always pretend that she's just having a trip up North and she's just out of reception." 

But one thing that does give Kate comfort is knowing that Sally lived a full and vibrant life right up until the very end. 

"In my speech at her funeral, I shared how I once asked her if there was anything she would have wanted to tick off that she didn't do and she said there wasn't a single thing else she would have done."

Kate's message to other people with family members battling melanoma is simple — positivity was the lifeline that kept her own family afloat.

"If you're the person supporting someone with a cancer diagnosis, keep hope," Kate advised.

"Keep hope even though you might not necessarily feel it. Be the person who brings positivity. It doesn't mean telling someone something that's not true; it's just being that person to keep them in good spirits."

"The best thing I could do was laugh with Mum and keep her upbeat — keeping her just as we remembered her."

Join Kate and thousands of others at HBF Run for a Reason on Sunday, May 25 and support a cause that matters to you. Register here.

Feature Image: Supplied.

This year HBF Run for a Reason is all about your reason.

Choose a cause that inspires you, set your fundraising goal, and rally your supporters to join the journey. This is community spirit at its best and it's why HBF has been running this event for the WA community since 2010.

Get started today and turn your steps into support. Enter at hbfrun.com.au. We can't wait to see you at the start line on Sunday 25 May.