The inspiring story of Emma Betts premieres on Australian Story
16 April 2018
Emma Betts was only 22 years old when she learned that she had stage 4 melanoma. Emma shared her story with many by documenting her experience with melanoma on her blog Dear Melanoma. She sadly passed away at the age of 25 in April, 2017.
Australian Story's 'Dear Emma' is a tribute to the life and times of a young woman determined to raise awareness about melanoma. A true tear-jerker, the segment will explore how Emma and her husband Serge dealt with her heartbreak and how her parents Tamra and Leon, are continuing Emma’s legacy of encouraging others to contribute to life-saving research.
Although Emma was not a patient of Melanoma Institute Australia, she cared very deeply about people with melanoma and people at risk of melanoma around the country. She did everything she could to get the word out and raised a lot of funds for research at MIA - which reveals the complexity of the drivers of melanoma in younger people. It's not only about sun damage.
We're committed to weaving Emma's loving legacy into the work we'll be undertaking to draw attention to melanoma in young Australians and the research, treatment and education strategies we need to stop losing them to this disease.
Emma Betts started the national conversation about melanoma that Australia has to have. To continue Emma’s legacy, we need to keep that conversation going.
You can honour Emma's passion for life-saving research by making a donation here.
Watch Australian Story's Dear Emma on Monday, 16 April at 8pm on ABC TV and ABC iview
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