The Disease That Took Bix, and Why Research Changes Everything

A lot of you know I'm riding in memory of Bix, my father-in-law. What some of you might not know is exactly what we lost him to, and why that makes every kilometre of this ride feel so personal.

Bix had Multiple Myeloma.

It's not a cancer that gets as much public airtime as some others, so I want to take a moment to share what it actually is, because understanding it is part of why I am so passionate about this cause.

What is Multiple Myeloma?

Multiple Myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells, the white blood cells in your bone marrow that normally help your body fight infection. When those cells mutate and multiply out of control, they crowd out healthy blood cells and can cause bone damage, kidney problems, and a weakened immune system. It attacks from the inside, quietly, and it is relentless.

It is not a rare disease. In Australia, around 2,755 people will be diagnosed this year alone. Roughly 1 in 116 Australians will receive this diagnosis in their lifetime. The average person diagnosed is in their early 70s, so it tends to take people in a chapter of life that should be filled with grandchildren and gardens and long afternoons. Instead, it takes them early. Or it takes years of treatment, uncertainty, and fighting.

The News That Gives Me Hope

Here's what makes me pedal harder when my legs want to quit: research is genuinely working.

In the late 1980s, the five-year survival rate for Multiple Myeloma was around 26–28%. That means fewer than 3 in 10 people made it to five years post-diagnosis.

Today, that figure is close to 69%.

That is not an accident. That is decades of dedicated scientists, clinical trials, and the kind of groundbreaking research that only happens when it is properly funded. It is proof that when we invest in understanding cancer, people live longer. Families get more time.

Where the Harry Perkins Institute Comes In

The Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research is WA's leading cancer research institution. Their researchers are working on some of the hardest-to-treat cancers there are, finding new treatments, understanding why cancers resist existing therapies, and building the knowledge base that shapes how patients are treated right across the country.

Cancer research doesn't happen in isolation. Every breakthrough in how cancer cells behave, how the immune system responds, how we can target tumours more precisely, that knowledge ripples across cancer types. The work being done at the Perkins right now is contributing to the science that will shape the next generation of treatments for cancers like Multiple Myeloma.

Every dollar raised through the MACA Cancer 200 goes directly to that work. And given that the survival rate for MM has more than doubled in 30 years of research investment, I'd say it is money extraordinarily well spent.

Riding for What Research Can Still Do

The survival rate for Multiple Myeloma has come a long way. But it is not where it needs to be. Too many people are still losing this fight. Too many families are still saying goodbye too soon.

We said goodbye to Bix. And I carry that with me every single ride.

If you haven't yet donated, or you know someone who might want to be part of this, please share the page. Every dollar is a vote for more time, more time for families like ours, and for every family facing this diagnosis right now.

Let's keep riding. Let's keep pushing. The finish line matters, but so does everything that happens because of this ride.

Crushing Goals and pedaling with Purpose

What an incredible few weeks it has been! Between the mileage piling up on the legs and the astonishing support coming in from all of you, I am blown away.

We haven't just hit our original fundraising target for the MACA Cancer 200, we absolutely smashed right past it. Seeing the generosity of this community has been deeply humbling. Every single dollar raised is going straight toward groundbreaking research at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, and I can't thank you enough for backing me.

​The physical preparation has definitely stepped up a notch, too. My training schedule has officially ramped up, which means longer weekend rides, early morning grinds, and plenty of sore muscles.

​It isn't just coffee or willpower pushing me though. Whenever the legs start burning or I feel like slowing down, I think of Bix. Having that personal motivation front and center changes everything. It turns every hard pedal stroke into something meaningful and reminds me exactly why i'm taking on this 200km journey.

​I still have work to do before event day, but riding with this momentum makes all the difference. Thank you for the encouragement, the donations, and for being part of this fight.

​Let's keep the wheels turning!

I’m on a mission to defeat cancer.

Cancer doesn’t just affect one person, it shakes up families, friends and communities. This year, I will be taking a stand against it. 

In October 2026, I’m joining a community of passionate riders to cycle 200km to raise vital funds for cancer research at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research.

Every dollar pushes us closer to breakthroughs at the Perkins where brilliant researchers work tirelessly to find life-saving answers for some of the toughest cancers. But they also need our help to ensure their vital progress continues– no matter what.

 100% of the funds we raise will go back to the Perkins giving cancer researchers the support to continue their life-saving work so that our loved ones can live longer, healthier lives.

The Ride is more than just a test of endurance—it’s about unity. I'll ride alongside an incredible group of people who believe, as I do, that cancer can be conquered. Your support can turn this belief into reality.

I can’t do this alone. Will you help me to reach this goal?

Whether you join me on the Ride or support my fundraising, your generosity could be the key to saving our loved ones from this disease.

Together, we can beat cancer!