Well done and our thanks to Tom Rickerby, who has successfully completed the 123-kilometre Cape to Cape trail walk to raise over $20 000 for mesothelioma research at NCARD.

Tom’s mother, Penny Rickerby, lived in the asbestos mining town Wittenoom as a child. Fifty years later, she developed mesothelioma. After her diagnosis, Penny was enrolled in a clinical trial at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and NCARD, which Tom credits with increasing her life long enough to see her newborn granddaughter Elsie. She died at the age of 60, a few weeks after her birthday.

Tom chose to walk the trail between Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste in Western Australia’s southwest – an incredible 123-kilometre hike – to raise funds for NCARD research in memory of his mother. After reaching Cape Naturaliste, his plan was to continue the trek to Eagle Bay, his mother’s resting place. He hoped to raise $10 000 to sponsor another mesothelioma patient like Penny to participate in an NCARD world-first clinical trial using combination chemoimmunotherapy and non-invasive imaging.

Tom set off on his trek from Cape Leeuwin on Thursday April 27. On Monday May 1, joined by a band of supporters, he walked from Yallingup to Cape Naturaliste before finishing his walk in Eagle Bay. By the end of his long journey, he had raised over twice his goal – $20 380 at the time of writing, enough to sponsor two patients to participate in clinical trials.

We at NCARD offer our utmost thanks to Tom for his generosity and selflessness at this time. We will use these funds to support clinical trials for mesothelioma patients, and to keep striving towards a cure for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

Congratulations, Tom, on your amazing achievement!

If you would like to donate to Tom’s fundraiser, please click here.