In June 2025, more than 100 people met at City Beach at 6am for a cold dip in honour of Melissa Murdoch, a devoted mother, wife, daughter and friend who had sadly lost her life to cancer. The group, called Mel’s Mob, braved the cold waters to raise funds and awareness, raising over $13,000 for cancer research and support.
Melissa’s Story
In 2024, Melissa Murdoch was at a stage in life where everything she had worked hard for was coming together. She had built a loving family, a warm and welcoming home, and a career she loved.
Melissa was a regular runner and swimmer, often beginning her mornings with a run followed by a swim at City Beach with her dad, before heading to Perth Children’s Hospital where she worked as a burns nurse.
Melissa had been seeing her doctor for several months about ongoing abdominal pain. Unfortunately, the abdominal pain worsened, at one point landing her in the emergency room.
Just weeks before her 48th birthday, Melissa received the devastating diagnosis – it was cancer. She underwent rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, but sadly, the treatments didn’t work. Within a few short months, Melissa passed away with her loving family at her bedside.
Her loss deeply affected her family, friends, colleagues, and everyone who had the joy of knowing her.
“Melissa was so cruelly robbed of her future. Her future not only with her family, but the nursing vocation she so much loved and enjoyed. Caring for the children and families of those needing health care at Perth Children’s Hospital came second only to her family”, Melissa’s father, Robert, shared.
