Gasmans Journey

This Saturday is World Cancer Day and as such our local family will undertake the 5KM Challenge to raise awareness and funds for Cancer, in particular with focus on early onset bowel cancer.

Our family was hit by a devastating cancer diagnosis in December last year. Mitch Lawrence isa much loved and adored 38yo husband, father, son, friend and local Anaesthetist. We were completely blindsided when Mitch was told he had Stage IV Colon cancer, with metastasis throughout his liver. Even though a doctor himself, you just never expect at 38yrs old to have to suddenly confront your mortality, whilst thinking about if you’ll have the chance to watch your 8yr old twins grow up!

As a family, we have accepted the World Cancer Day 5K Challenge! On Saturday 4th February, we will be walking 5km around the picturesque coastline of Port Macquarie! With our own recent devastating news, we’ve become so passionate about urgently spreading the word about the increasing diagnosis of advanced bowel cancer in young people, not only in Australia but around the world! So, what better day than World Cancer Day to do this!?

Mitch will be ‘fresh’ from round 4 of Chemotherapy (finishes the day before!), but he is so pumped to complete the challenge alongside of his very proud family! We would love anyone and everyone to walk with us on Saturday 4th Feb & perhaps provide Mitchy some good ol’ moral support!!

Walk details: Saturday 4th Feb, 7.30am 5km walk from towns beach carpark (Salty Crew Kiosk end) along the coast to Livvi's Playground (westport park) and return to Towns beach.

We also have set up a donation page for our 5K Challenge, with all proceeds going directly to Bowel Cancer Australia and their Never2Young campaign!

Bowel Cancer Australia is a 100% community-funded national charity and they need continued donations to keep their vital dedication to prevention, early diagnosis, research, & quality treatment for those affected by bowel cancer.

We and so so many others need you - so if you can spare a few $$’s to donate and/or walk for cancer awareness this World Cancer Day, it won’t be just the Lawrence’s thanking you, but millions of people!!

Never2Young is an initiative of Bowel Cancer Australia, providing resources uniquely designed for younger people. Helping younger Australians better understand their bowel cancer risk and take appropriate action, raise much-needed awareness and receive dedicated support that is tailored to the needs of young-onset patients.

A few facts about young-onset Bowel Cancer:

• Each year 1,600 young Australians are diagnosed with Bowel cancer. Bowel cancer incidence rates among young people are increasing both in Australia and internationally.

• Bowel cancer is the deadliest cancer and the sixth leading cause of death overall for Australians aged 25-44!

• There has also been a 186% increase in bowel cancer cases in adolescents and young adults (15-24 years) over the past three decades!

We (Laney & Mitch) have decided to share our family’s highs and lows throughout this devastating journey that is Cancer, and have made an Instagram page (@Gasmans_journey). Not only an intentional future reference for our 8yo twin boys, Jed & Brae to look back on, but also to hopefully bring awareness to what is an increasingly young persons ‘silent killer’, bowel cancer.

Please support our efforts by making a secure online donation and by posting a message of support. Donations made through Go Fundraise are secure and will be remitted directly through to Bowel Cancer Australia. Thanks so much for your support!

Many thanks

Mitch, Laney, Jed & Brae Lawrence