5 years ago, I was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma and to celebrate this milestone I will running around Brisbane for 100km to raise money and most importantly awareness for Melanoma Institute Australia in the River Run 100http://www.riverrun100.com.au/. For where my cancer spread to, patients have a 40% 5 year survival rate and a 28% 10 year survival rate. The 100km run starts and finishes at South Bank, Brisbane on August 24 and coincidentally just 2 days before this event I will be attending the P.A Hospital to hopefully be given the news of been 5 years clear of cancer.

I will be the first to admit for the first couple of years I didn't handle the diagnosis well but thanks to perseverance and hard work from the team at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and unconditional love and support from family and friends, I am now the happiest and healthiest I have ever been. In the end it was as simple as a brother of mine telling me "You have two options. To be healthy or be unhealthy".

I ask everyone to support me on August 24 by donating 10 cents for each kilometre I run($10 total) to the Melanoma Institute Australia. Most importantly I want you to spend money on yourself that kicks off a healthier lifestyle for you, it might be as simple as an extra yoga class a week or a new pair of running shoes. Anything that makes you happy.

Thankyou for everyone for the support over the last 5 years, none of it went un-noticed. Every donation over $2 is tax deductable so please spread the word around to family and friends.

Namaste

KIERAN O'BRIEN