By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
IN THE wake of tragic news about their good friend, a group of local residents are finding strength through solidarity.
It’s the reason sport teacher Peter Frank could be seen busting his gut at Casey Fields on Saturday, running over 35 kilometres in four hours to raise money for his best mate and work colleague, Scotty McConchie.
After beating a brain tumour first picked up by scans in 2009, 44-year-old Scotty’s world was rocked again in June last year when he was told that spots had reappeared on his brain. The illness had returned and progressed to a stage 4 Glioblastoma Multiforme, the most aggressive form of malignant brain tumour one can be diagnosed with.
Having fought his own battle with a brain tumour almost 12 years ago, Peter helped rally as much support as possible for his run on Saturday. It was another event organised as part of the Save Our Scotty campaign, an initiative set up by Scott’s family and friends.
Peter said he was determined to help Scotty fund his medical treatment after learning of the tragic news.
“Scotty rang me up and told me, it was devastating. He’s got a young family,” Peter said.
“We’re now looking to raise as much money as we can for him. It’s $20,000 for an eight-day treatment and he needs three to four of them,” he said.
Peter said he drew on his own experience with a tumour when he urged Scotty to seek a medical diagnosis.
“When I had my own tumours removed, Scotty was there for me throughout the process,” Peter said.
“Then in 2010, Scotty started getting his own headaches and I told him to go and get an MRI. He had the MRI and was first operated on in 2011.”
As well as Saturday’s run, in which many of Scotty’s supporters joined Peter for various lengths, the Save Our Scotty initiative has also seen people rally together through trivia nights and raffles, with other events on the horizon.
Boys Clayton Taylor and Lachlan Morris, friends of Scotty’s family, also both shaved their heads on Saturday to raise money for his cause.
Peter said the amount of support shown was emblematic of the person Scotty is.
“So many people have been involved – ex-students, family, colleagues. It’s been an amazing rally,” he said.
“It’s a measure of the guy and what he’s meant to so many people.”
Now taking chemotherapy tablets, Scotty’s spirits are calmed by a steely determination to fight his illness and humbled by all the people who have pledged to help him.
Not least of all his wife Sharyn and children Nathan, Jessica and Joel.
Scotty said he was overwhelmed by the support he had received and that he wouldn’t stop fighting.
“The doctors are hoping this will get rid of anything remaining. They may need to do a blast radiation treatment if the tumour grows any bigger,” he said.
“Unfortunately, the form of cancer is not curable. But we are going to prove them wrong.”
