Certainly a big event on at the moment. The cozy challenge about the Oscar being challenged by a number of people. Let's find out a bit more about and speak to Rob Crossman. Rob, thanks, Tom, and great to speak to you.

Certainly a big event on at the moment. The cozy challenge about the Oscar being challenged by a number of people. Let's find out a bit more about and speak to Rob Crossman. Rob, thanks, Tom, and great to speak to you.

Great to meet you, Peter.

Great to meet you, Peter.

Tell us about this event. We'll talk about the reason for you being involved in a second. But tell us generally about the event, a number of people taking part by the end of this year.

Tell us about this event. We'll talk about the reason for you being involved in a second. But tell us generally about the event, a number of people taking part by the end of this year.

Yeah. That's right. Um, so for the first time, we've spread the event across two days. So, so it's actually happening on Friday and Saturday and we're all there's about 700 people all going to be climbing Mount Kosciusko for charity. Fantastic.

Yeah. That's right. Um, so for the first time, we've spread the event across two days. So, so it's actually happening on Friday and Saturday and we're all there's about 700 people all going to be climbing Mount Kosciusko for charity. Fantastic.

It's a very worthy cause, which I said, we'll come back to you in a second. Tell us a bit about. Um, well, I guess most of us might have learned at school how high it is and the, the distance from sort of, uh, top to bottom, how many cars up and back. And, uh, what is the actual, uh, summit? How high is it? Yeah.

It's a very worthy cause, which I said, we'll come back to you in a second. Tell us a bit about. Um, well, I guess most of us might have learned at school how high it is and the, the distance from sort of, uh, top to bottom, how many cars up and back. And, uh, what is the actual, uh, summit? How high is it? Yeah.

No, it's Australia's tallest mountain. You've got me stumped on on, on. Um. How high? I think it's around about 3000m from memory, but it from Thredbo up to the summit and back again. It's 21km or thereabouts, and, you know, probably takes about eight hours to to to get there and back. If you walk the full way, some of us might cheat and we might take the, um, the chairlift back down the mountain afterwards, which saves us a bit of time. But generally speaking, we all walk all the way up, and then we get to the chairlift station and, uh, we go from the chairlift station to the summit and back. As I said, some people take the chairlift down, some people walk back down. But, uh, yeah, it's, uh, it's a it's a hike, that's for sure.

No, it's Australia's tallest mountain. You've got me stumped on on, on. Um. How high? I think it's around about 3000m from memory, but it from Thredbo up to the summit and back again. It's 21km or thereabouts, and, you know, probably takes about eight hours to to to get there and back. If you walk the full way, some of us might cheat and we might take the, um, the chairlift back down the mountain afterwards, which saves us a bit of time. But generally speaking, we all walk all the way up, and then we get to the chairlift station and, uh, we go from the chairlift station to the summit and back. As I said, some people take the chairlift down, some people walk back down. But, uh, yeah, it's, uh, it's a it's a hike, that's for sure.

I guess you'd have to be doing some training for it beforehand. Yeah, yeah.

I guess you'd have to be doing some training for it beforehand. Yeah, yeah.

That's right. It's, um, more than anything, I think it's just about getting miles into the legs, you know, it's it's the first part of the climb, if you like, from Thredbo up to where the, uh, chairlift station is, is incredibly steep and it's incredibly hard. But once you get to that chairlift station from there to the summit, then it's it's not too bad a walk, actually. It's lovely. I mean, it's still still a climb, you know, but it's, uh, it's a bit more gentle and a bit easier and that kind of thing. So I think mentally you've just got to get yourself through the first two hours. And if you can achieve that, then, um, then, then, then you're more than halfway there, I think. But as for training, yeah, it's just getting out, getting walking and getting getting miles into the legs so that you, you know, you're fit enough and capable enough to put up with it. Is it a well-worn path? Yeah. It is. I mean, it's, um, we follow Merritt's track, which is, um, which is quite a decent nature walk, which runs us from Thredbo all the way up to where the chairlift station is on, um, just below the summit, and then from the chairlift station to the summit. Then it's across moorland, but it's, um, there's a decent path all the way which the National Parks Authority put in place. So it's, uh, you know, it's it's something that, you know, at any anybody can do, to be perfectly honest, you don't need to be, you know, you need to be fit to get up to the chairlift station. But once you once you're there, then it's a relatively straightforward. You don't need to be a serious walker to do it.

That's right. It's, um, more than anything, I think it's just about getting miles into the legs, you know, it's it's the first part of the climb, if you like, from Thredbo up to where the, uh, chairlift station is, is incredibly steep and it's incredibly hard. But once you get to that chairlift station from there to the summit, then it's it's not too bad a walk, actually. It's lovely. I mean, it's still still a climb, you know, but it's, uh, it's a bit more gentle and a bit easier and that kind of thing. So I think mentally you've just got to get yourself through the first two hours. And if you can achieve that, then, um, then, then, then you're more than halfway there, I think. But as for training, yeah, it's just getting out, getting walking and getting getting miles into the legs so that you, you know, you're fit enough and capable enough to put up with it. Is it a well-worn path? Yeah. It is. I mean, it's, um, we follow Merritt's track, which is, um, which is quite a decent nature walk, which runs us from Thredbo all the way up to where the chairlift station is on, um, just below the summit, and then from the chairlift station to the summit. Then it's across moorland, but it's, um, there's a decent path all the way which the National Parks Authority put in place. So it's, uh, you know, it's it's something that, you know, at any anybody can do, to be perfectly honest, you don't need to be, you know, you need to be fit to get up to the chairlift station. But once you once you're there, then it's a relatively straightforward. You don't need to be a serious walker to do it.

What about, uh, weather conditions the middle of March?

What about, uh, weather conditions the middle of March?

Yeah, well, it's a.

Yeah, well, it's a.

It's the problem is that that at that height, it's so changeable. I remember the this is the third year that I've done this, uh, this hike now and and the first year, I think it was, um, it was actually quite, uh, it was actually quite sunny and, um, you know, and warm and I remember, you know, stripping off and and actually forgetting to bring sunscreen with me. And, of course, you're above the clouds up there, so, um, so, so, you know, having to bathe myself in, um, afterwards to dry myself down, uh, last year was wind, you know, it wasn't. It was warm, but it wasn't, um, not too warm, but it was, uh, it was more windy than anything this year. I think, um, they're saying it's only going to be about, you know, 10 to 13 degrees. So hopefully lovely walking weather. Yeah.

It's the problem is that that at that height, it's so changeable. I remember the this is the third year that I've done this, uh, this hike now and and the first year, I think it was, um, it was actually quite, uh, it was actually quite sunny and, um, you know, and warm and I remember, you know, stripping off and and actually forgetting to bring sunscreen with me. And, of course, you're above the clouds up there, so, um, so, so, you know, having to bathe myself in, um, afterwards to dry myself down, uh, last year was wind, you know, it wasn't. It was warm, but it wasn't, um, not too warm, but it was, uh, it was more windy than anything this year. I think, um, they're saying it's only going to be about, you know, 10 to 13 degrees. So hopefully lovely walking weather. Yeah.

Well, I guess you will have a chance to warm up. Well, I mentioned a very personal reason for you and your family being involved. You want to share some of that with us?

Well, I guess you will have a chance to warm up. Well, I mentioned a very personal reason for you and your family being involved. You want to share some of that with us?

Yeah. Okay. Um, so so look, the the charity we're walking for is is rare Cancers Australia. And this is their primary fundraising event that they, that they run every year. My lovely wife Danielle, um, passed away from a rare cancer just over two years ago now. And rare cancers supported myself, my two daughters and Danielle's broader family. Um, and Danielle herself, of course, through that, uh, period of her illness and then subsequently after her death. So, so for myself, my daughters, Jen and Danielle's sisters and brother who are also going to be doing this walk with us, for us, it's a personal thing, you know, it's a way of giving back to to a fantastic organization who gave so much to us when we needed their help.

Yeah. Okay. Um, so so look, the the charity we're walking for is is rare Cancers Australia. And this is their primary fundraising event that they, that they run every year. My lovely wife Danielle, um, passed away from a rare cancer just over two years ago now. And rare cancers supported myself, my two daughters and Danielle's broader family. Um, and Danielle herself, of course, through that, uh, period of her illness and then subsequently after her death. So, so for myself, my daughters, Jen and Danielle's sisters and brother who are also going to be doing this walk with us, for us, it's a personal thing, you know, it's a way of giving back to to a fantastic organization who gave so much to us when we needed their help.

One of the reasons they're called rare cancers. Because they invariably take a bit longer than general to diagnose. And I guess that has its own issues in terms of, um, you know, treatment. Yeah.

One of the reasons they're called rare cancers. Because they invariably take a bit longer than general to diagnose. And I guess that has its own issues in terms of, um, you know, treatment. Yeah.

That's right. I mean, I think, I think, you know, the the doctors realized Danielle had cancer quite early on, but, um, but they, they didn't know what kind of cancer, and it took around about 4 to 6 weeks for them to, to actually identify the type of cancer that she had. And it's only once you've identified the type then that you can start treatment. So, um, they know which treatment options to, to, to apply to it. And uh, so yeah, so that initial diagnosis period, as I say, took around about 4 to 6 weeks to get to a full diagnosis. And then, as you say, getting hold of the drug drugs. Right. I mean, these are rare cancers. They're, you know, uh, a lot of research goes into the common cancers, and quite rightly so, because, you know, they they are the most common. They affect the most numbers of people. So things like, you know, breast cancer, melanoma, lung cancers, those kind of things are quite well researched. Unfortunately, there's a lot of cancers out there that are that aren't so well researched. And um, in my wife's case, you know, she, she ended up with a rare form of thyroid cancer. Now, thyroid cancers only make up about 2% of of cancers in all. And the particular type that Danielle had was only 2% of all thyroid cancers. So so it was 2% of 2%, if you like. So um, yeah. So, you know, probably not more than 20, 20 people in the country that have that at any given time, you know. Yeah.

That's right. I mean, I think, I think, you know, the the doctors realized Danielle had cancer quite early on, but, um, but they, they didn't know what kind of cancer, and it took around about 4 to 6 weeks for them to, to actually identify the type of cancer that she had. And it's only once you've identified the type then that you can start treatment. So, um, they know which treatment options to, to, to apply to it. And uh, so yeah, so that initial diagnosis period, as I say, took around about 4 to 6 weeks to get to a full diagnosis. And then, as you say, getting hold of the drug drugs. Right. I mean, these are rare cancers. They're, you know, uh, a lot of research goes into the common cancers, and quite rightly so, because, you know, they they are the most common. They affect the most numbers of people. So things like, you know, breast cancer, melanoma, lung cancers, those kind of things are quite well researched. Unfortunately, there's a lot of cancers out there that are that aren't so well researched. And um, in my wife's case, you know, she, she ended up with a rare form of thyroid cancer. Now, thyroid cancers only make up about 2% of of cancers in all. And the particular type that Danielle had was only 2% of all thyroid cancers. So so it was 2% of 2%, if you like. So um, yeah. So, you know, probably not more than 20, 20 people in the country that have that at any given time, you know. Yeah.

It's interesting isn't it? You talk about, uh, you know, research and where the funds go, I guess, understandably, you know, the more common ones get the most funding. But, you know, it's, you know, if you're kind of in the less common bracket, then, uh, you know, it's it's it's it's a tough time, isn't it?

It's interesting isn't it? You talk about, uh, you know, research and where the funds go, I guess, understandably, you know, the more common ones get the most funding. But, you know, it's, you know, if you're kind of in the less common bracket, then, uh, you know, it's it's it's it's a tough time, isn't it?

Yeah, absolutely. And and that's one of the difficulties. And it's also one of the great things that, um, our career counselors Australia do as well, you know, they advocate, um, for er, cancers both with the government and with drug companies, pharmaceutical companies and that kind of thing to bring more emphasis to these, to these reforms. Um, and to get the drugs approved for use against, against these kind of, um, uh, these kind of cancers. Just as an example, Danielle was first put on a drug which is commonly used for liver cancer. But, um, actually has shown worldwide to be to be, you know, useful when treating this particular form of thyroid cancer as well. So, um, there was no specific treatment for thyroid cancer that she had. So we're constantly trying to find drugs that potentially were available out in the market to us to use. But but they weren't necessarily approved or dedicated or designed specifically for thyroid type of cancers. And then, of course, that means they're not on the Pharmaceutical benefits scheme, which means that you don't get all, you know, they're they're costly. Now, in our case, we were we were actually quite lucky. And and we were able to get on to a compassionate access program, which meant that the pharmacy pharmaceutical companies already gave us those drugs, um, pretty much for free. So. So we were lucky. But that's that's not usual, you know, um, that, that and and it's not the system doesn't support that. It's just it's just luck to a certain degree. And these drugs can be quite expensive. I mean, the drugs Daniel was on were, you know, 14, $15,000 a month. Okay. So if you did have to pay for it, then that's a huge amount of money. And that's what a lot of the fundraising that we do for Rare Cancers Australia does. You know, they support people who need drugs or who need treatments that, um, just aren't generally available, you know, so so they, they're not available on Pharmaceutical Benefits scheme. So they have to be paid for by people. So RCA does a lot of fundraising to actually support these people to get these.

Yeah, absolutely. And and that's one of the difficulties. And it's also one of the great things that, um, our career counselors Australia do as well, you know, they advocate, um, for er, cancers both with the government and with drug companies, pharmaceutical companies and that kind of thing to bring more emphasis to these, to these reforms. Um, and to get the drugs approved for use against, against these kind of, um, uh, these kind of cancers. Just as an example, Danielle was first put on a drug which is commonly used for liver cancer. But, um, actually has shown worldwide to be to be, you know, useful when treating this particular form of thyroid cancer as well. So, um, there was no specific treatment for thyroid cancer that she had. So we're constantly trying to find drugs that potentially were available out in the market to us to use. But but they weren't necessarily approved or dedicated or designed specifically for thyroid type of cancers. And then, of course, that means they're not on the Pharmaceutical benefits scheme, which means that you don't get all, you know, they're they're costly. Now, in our case, we were we were actually quite lucky. And and we were able to get on to a compassionate access program, which meant that the pharmacy pharmaceutical companies already gave us those drugs, um, pretty much for free. So. So we were lucky. But that's that's not usual, you know, um, that, that and and it's not the system doesn't support that. It's just it's just luck to a certain degree. And these drugs can be quite expensive. I mean, the drugs Daniel was on were, you know, 14, $15,000 a month. Okay. So if you did have to pay for it, then that's a huge amount of money. And that's what a lot of the fundraising that we do for Rare Cancers Australia does. You know, they support people who need drugs or who need treatments that, um, just aren't generally available, you know, so so they, they're not available on Pharmaceutical Benefits scheme. So they have to be paid for by people. So RCA does a lot of fundraising to actually support these people to get these.

Drugs the events on this weekend. But people can contribute after the weekend's over.

Drugs the events on this weekend. But people can contribute after the weekend's over.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, absolutely. If you go to the Rare Cancers Australia website or, um, Google Cosi challenge, Cosi challenge on, you know, then then you'll get to the websites. Um, my team is Danny's dynamo, so I, you know, I, I'd say to everybody go to that team. But the reality is it doesn't matter, right? Just go to any of the teams, support any of the teams or just go straight to rare cancers Australia and and and just put in a donation direct to them all. All the money goes to supporting the cancer advisors who basically support people like myself, like my wife, who find yourself in that situation and need the help of somebody who can navigate you through the, uh, the diagnosis and, and really what the consultants and the doctors are telling Rob.

Yeah, absolutely. If you go to the Rare Cancers Australia website or, um, Google Cosi challenge, Cosi challenge on, you know, then then you'll get to the websites. Um, my team is Danny's dynamo, so I, you know, I, I'd say to everybody go to that team. But the reality is it doesn't matter, right? Just go to any of the teams, support any of the teams or just go straight to rare cancers Australia and and and just put in a donation direct to them all. All the money goes to supporting the cancer advisors who basically support people like myself, like my wife, who find yourself in that situation and need the help of somebody who can navigate you through the, uh, the diagnosis and, and really what the consultants and the doctors are telling Rob.

We wish you well to you and, uh, Danny Stanaway, thank you for, uh, all you've done so far. Let's hope it's a most successful campaign this time round. And we. Yeah, you never know that. Next dollar up to the dollar that gets the breakthrough.

We wish you well to you and, uh, Danny Stanaway, thank you for, uh, all you've done so far. Let's hope it's a most successful campaign this time round. And we. Yeah, you never know that. Next dollar up to the dollar that gets the breakthrough.

Yeah, I.

Yeah, I.

Hope so I hope so. Thanks for your time Peter.

Hope so I hope so. Thanks for your time Peter.

That's a Rob Crossman there from Dennis Donovan is taking part in the Kelsey Challenge for a rare Cancers Australia. We'll put a link up on our Facebook page. So if you go there you better get all the information. And if you've got a dollar or two to spare, that could be the dollar that makes the difference.

That's a Rob Crossman there from Dennis Donovan is taking part in the Kelsey Challenge for a rare Cancers Australia. We'll put a link up on our Facebook page. So if you go there you better get all the information. And if you've got a dollar or two to spare, that could be the dollar that makes the difference.