Dr Malcolm Legget - Unicorn Foundation NZ

I will never forget the day I was diagnosed with a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour the size of a golf ball, with more metastases in my liver than you could count. No one ever forgets. As I called my wife, I thought, “how am I going to tell the kids?”.

Under the guidance of some great oncologists , I found my way to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne for the most important diagnostic test of my life - a special type of CT scan called a GaTate scan, or for ease we call it the NET scan. This shows with a great level of accuracy where the NET cancers are, how active they are, how much they have spread, and most importantly whether they are suitable for a special treatment called PRRT. I will never forget the moment my wife and I were told that I was very suitable for the treatment.

That was over three years ago, and now I am preparing to ride the length of the North Island to raise money to help the Unicorn Foundation NZ to bring some of this technology to New Zealand.

At present the only way kiwis with NETs can have this most important diagnostic test that helps determine their future, is to go to Australia, with no government support. This is very tough for some people.

As a start we are trying to raise around $400,000 to create a programme over the next two years, where New Zealanders can access the right test at the right time to give them the best chance for the future.

Every dollar will make a huge difference so please support me as I embark on this important and worthy challenge.

With sincere thanks and best wishes,

Malcolm