It was just a small nagging scab on truck driver Jay Allen's ankle but it almost ended his life.
Thirty two years old in 2008, the Sydneysider didn't think too much of it and only went to a doctor after being urged by wife Janine.
But scans revealed the worst.
The itchy mole was instead a deeply-embedded stage three melanoma which had spread to lymph nodes in Jay's groin.
"I was completely unaware of melanoma when I was young, never used to put on sunscreen," he told AAP.
"I'm so lucky I got it checked when I did.
"My wife, she saved my life."
Several operations and treatment were required to remove Jay's lymph nodes and ensure the cancer was out of his system.
Check-ups followed every three months where Jay's life was routinely "put on hold" as he anxiously waited to hear whether it had returned.
Some 10 years on, the father of four is cancer free and has dedicated his life to raising awareness about melanoma - the number one cancer killer of Australians aged 20-39.
He works as a community co-ordinator at the Melanoma Institute Australia and has previously campaigned for the commercial ban of sunbeds.
His next challenge is to walk 1200 kilometres from Brisbane to Sydney as part of the institute's Melanoma March.
"I've lost 29 friends in nine years to melanoma, they'll walking with me every step of the way," Jay said.
"Our culture is that everybody wants to get a tan but we need to change that and get into the future generations and let them know about the dangers.
He begins at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on Sunday and will weave his way down the eastern seaboard to Barangaroo over the next 29 days.
The goal is to raise $250,000 and complete the walk.
"I'm looking forward to it, I'm pumped," Jay said.
"It's been about two years of training, big walks, sand running, stairs and filling my body with really good nutrition.
"I've got quite a few pairs of shoes and about 30 socks, so I'm ready to go."
