General News
30 January, 2023
Locals commit to bare it all to raise funds for community members battling cancer
Former local Bill McIlrath was given a five percent chance of survival after a cancer diagnosis at the age of just 31 and now more than 10 years cancer clear, will take to the stage with 13 others as part of a cancer fundraiser in Maryborough. The...
Former local Bill McIlrath was given a five percent chance of survival after a cancer diagnosis at the age of just 31 and now more than 10 years cancer clear, will take to the stage with 13 others as part of a cancer fundraiser in Maryborough.
The Ladies Night Out and The Full Monty is coming to the Maryborough Highland Society on April 1, with seven men and seven women getting out of their comfort zone, and clothes, to raise money for the Maryborough District Health Service’s oncology unit.
Born and raised in Carisbrook, Bill was diagnosed with testicular cancer that had spread to his abdomen, lungs and brain at the age of just 31.
“I knew I was sick and something was wrong but I ignored all the symptoms,” he said.
“It wasn’t until I was coughing up blood that I realised something really wasn’t right.
“I had a chest x-ray and my lungs completely lit up with tumors which was interesting because I’ve never smoked.
“I went and saw the oncologist and asked what my chances were and I think he was surprised that when he told me I had a five percent chance, my response was ‘it’s better than four percent’.”
Bill’s fight against cancer is a deeply personal one, with his father also diagnosed with the same type of cancer at the same age.
For Bill, who had just left the police force prior to his diagnosis, the treatment process was anything but smooth sailing.
“I was on the harshest chemotherapy the doctors could have me on and I’ve never felt pain like it before, it was crazy,” he said.
“I remember coming home after my first dose and the tumor in my brain haemorrhaged.
“I managed to get out to the kitchen and tell my wife, who got me in the car and to the hospital and I woke up a month later after brain surgery.
“The doctors told my wife that I was alive, but they didn’t think I’d make it and if I did, I’d be a vegetable.
“I turned 32 while I was in that coma and died a couple of times along the way and when I did wake up, a third of my brain had been removed.
“In a funny way that haemorrhage saved my life because it got me to the Austin Hospital where the number one oncologist for my particular cancer worked and he took my case on.”
Now more than 11 years clear of cancer, Bill’s story is one of optimism and a positive attitude.
“My wife and I always say that if you don’t laugh, you cry,” he said.
“Testicular cancer is one of the more treatable cancers if you can get it early enough and the belief they would ever be able to treat mine was pretty much zero but as long as I kept fronting up, they were going to keep trying.
“As far as I know I still have the record for the most tumors removed from a lung in the southern hemisphere, I had 26 removed from my right lung in November 2011 which is pretty crazy.”
When approached and asked if he’d be interested in participating in the Ladies Night Out and The Full Monty, Bill said there was no hesitation.
“For me, this is about getting people to think about cancer and getting themselves checked out,” he said.
“We’re lucky now with the amount of treatments that are available.
“Cancer is personal for me, but it’s personal for everyone — I don’t think there’s anyone who hasn’t been impacted in some way by cancer.”
Fellow participant Marilyn Dymond said the event was an opportunity for her to have a laugh while also giving back to the community.
“I’m willing to do this for a good cause and a cause that’s going to benefit the community,” she said.
“I like a bit of fun and a good laugh and this combines that.
“We all have someone who’s been impacted by cancer in one way or another.
“It’s important for me to be involved in the town and community and I think this is a great way to do that.”
April will mark the second time an event of this type has taken place at the Highland Society, as well as the Pink Night reunion — an event where women impacted by cancer came together —after the first Full Monty was a roaring success in 2020.
Organiser and participant Nick Weaver said given the first event’s success there was no question it would return bigger and better than ever.
“The full monty was very successful in the past and we were hoping to have the ladies’ night the following year but COVID hit,” he said.
“We’ve all been touched by cancer in some way whether that be personally or through family and a lot of people were eager to see the event return.
“It’s not about whether we get all the dances perfect, it’s about getting up there and having a crack at something that takes us out of our comfort zones for a good cause.”
The Ladies Night Out and The Full Monty will feature a silent auction throughout the night as well as live entertainment to help fundraise and Mr Weaver is expecting sizeable crowds.
“We’ve already sold 200 tickets and we’re expecting around 500 people to come along on the night,” he said.
“On top of the silent auction, we’ll have an account set up that people can donate straight into on the night and if we could hit $50,000 that would be awesome.”
Tickets can be purchased at the Highland Society, with doors to the event will open at around 6 pm on April 1, with the show to start from 7.30.