Australia's fifth largest bank and second largest general insurer, Suncorp, is joining forces with Western Australia's world-class melanoma research centre to spearhead a new campaign to combat the skin cancer epidemic gripping the State.

The Scott Kirkbride Melanoma Research Centre (SKMRC), based at the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research (WAIMR), and Suncorp will tomorrow (Thursday March 26) announce a first-ever partnership to increase community awareness about skin cancer and raise funds for vital research at a special event in North Fremantle.

WAIMR Director Professor Peter Klinken said Suncorp's support would go a long way towards the search for improved diagnosis and treatment of melanoma.

"Melanoma is a devastating reality for so many WA families, so Suncorp has shown a committed first step into our State by making a promise to help improve our health and support research into the aggressive cancer," he said.

"We're extremely grateful for the opportunity Suncorp has offered, which will help fund research projects investigating how we can better diagnose and treat melanoma - in turn, we hope all West Australians will get behind Suncorp's effort to help ease the burden of skin cancer in WA."

Suncorp Group Executive Banking David Foster said the bank wanted to match its corporate commitment to Western Australia, where it now had seven branches, with a genuine commitment to the community.

"Our 16,000 staff combined with the relationship we have with over seven million customers nationally, provides an established and strong community base from which to support the SKMRC," Mr Foster said.

"The SKMRC will join only three other not-for-profit organisations listed on our BPAY donation scheme. Customers will be able to round up their bill or donate a nominated sum of money to the SKMRC when paying a bill online. We will also be listing the centre on our staff payroll-giving register and be creating opportunities to encourage our customers to donate to the SKMRC in-branch," he said.

"This partnership has been forged at a critical time when skin cancer rates in Western Australia are at an all-time high.

"Each year more than 1000 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed in Western Australia and about 130 mothers, fathers, sons and daughters die of this insidious disease.

"If we want to turn the tide on skin cancer we need to make sun protection our way of life. We're looking forward to working with the SKMRC to achieve their vision to become a world leader in the quest to beat one of the most deadly and prevalent forms of cancer."

The SKMRC was established in memory of young Perth golfer, Scott Kirkbride, who lost his battle with melanoma in 2004 at the age of 27.

Scott's mother, Yvonne Kirkbride, who founded the centre and now works full-time to raise funds for research, welcomed Suncorp's support saying melanoma research was an area that needed greater attention and investment.

"It's wonderful to have the support of a company who believes in what we're trying to achieve. I think it will be a special relationship and I hope it will grow," she said.

Mrs Kirkbride said she had discovered some startling facts about melanoma during her quest to find answers after her son's death.

"Australia has one of the highest rates of melanoma in the world, with Western Australia having the second highest rate behind Queensland. Melanoma is deadly and is the cancer most likely to affect 15-39 year olds," she said.

"When Scottie was diagnosed, it just turned our world upside down. To see him fight this disease, with the determination and courage that he had over two years, changed our lives and made us, as a family, determined to try to do something to help others.

"You never in your life expect your children to go before you. As a parent it is the hardest thing to ever go through and we just miss Scottie more than words can say. This is what drives us to do what we do."

Mr Foster said Suncorp had been leading a community awareness campaign about the deadly effects of sun exposure in Queensland - the skin cancer capital of Australia and the world.

"Suncorp has helped to raise more than $1.1 million for vital skin cancer research for our partner, the Queensland Institute of Medical Research," he said.

"We want to achieve the same success in Western Australia and build on the incredible fundraising efforts of Scott Kirkbride's family and friends who have raised about $2 million over the past three years to fund crucial research into the genetic causes of melanoma."

Media contacts:
Suncorp: Justine Nolan, 0403 090 914
WAIMR/SKMRC: Sarah Hayward, 0411 404 415