Giving people a chance.
Our quest doesnt stop here as we we continue to help revolutionise melanoma detection
Our Team
Our History
Our History
On 22nd - 24th June 2022, ten best mates will attempt to break the Guinness world record for the fastest team to row one million metres. The event will take place on a rowing machine at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. The current world record stands at 57 hours and 36 minutes. The purpose of this world record attempt is to raise awaren
On 22nd - 24th June 2022, ten best mates will attempt to break the Guinness world record for the fastest team to row one million metres. The event will take place on a rowing machine at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. The current world record stands at 57 hours and 36 minutes. The purpose of this world record attempt is to raise awareness to the risks of melanoma and to raise much needed funds which will be used to support the melanoma unit at the PA Hospital as well as to help individuals and families in their fight against melanoma.
One Queenslander dies every single day from the disease.
Our team are all Queenslanders, mostly doctors, and our aim is to raise at least $250,000 to help change these statistics.
Our History
Our History
Our History
This world record attempt is part of a campaign known as ‘A Million Metres For Melanoma’.
In April 2014, 31-year-old Phoebe Eales had a mole removed at a regular skin check. It was melanoma. Five months later, Phoebe felt a lump in her neck. It was melanoma. Her battle with melanoma continued with countless check-ups, scans, surgery, ra
This world record attempt is part of a campaign known as ‘A Million Metres For Melanoma’.
In April 2014, 31-year-old Phoebe Eales had a mole removed at a regular skin check. It was melanoma. Five months later, Phoebe felt a lump in her neck. It was melanoma. Her battle with melanoma continued with countless check-ups, scans, surgery, radiation and immunotherapy, and ended in November 2015 with this aggressive melanoma taking her life.
During her final days, she reached out to her brother-in-law Chris Conyard and asked him to help those who were also fighting against melanoma.
Since then Chris and his team of mates have raised almost $500,000 towards the fight against Melanoma.
Our Mission
Our History
Our Mission
The Million Metres for Melanoma challenge has the potential to make a significant difference to the lives of those, who as yet do not even know they have a melanoma diagnosis by partnering with PA Research Foundation and The Dermatology Research Centre.
Through:
- improving early detection and providing evidence for a National Targeted Scre
The Million Metres for Melanoma challenge has the potential to make a significant difference to the lives of those, who as yet do not even know they have a melanoma diagnosis by partnering with PA Research Foundation and The Dermatology Research Centre.
Through:
- improving early detection and providing evidence for a National Targeted Screening Program, and
- reducing variation in diagnosis and treatment,
We are on our way to reaching this goal.
About the Vectra 360 machine
$250,000.00
The fight against skin cancer has been taken to another level with the introduction of the Vectra 360 machine. This machine produces a detailed 3-D image of a patient which replicates the skin surface in complete detail. This makes it very easy to pick up any changes between check-ups, in particular with high risk individuals.
Every year in Australia, skin cancer accounts for around 80 per cent of all newly diagnosed cancers. Here in Queensland, our outdoor lifestyle puts us at great risk.
The Vectra 360 is part of the solution to early detection.
PLEASE HELP US REACH OUR GOAL:
https://www.teamparf.org.au/teams/million-metres-for-melanoma
THE TEAM
Chris Conyard
Nathan Schaefer
Nathan Schaefer
Chris is a 36year old, recently qualified orthopaedic surgeon. Previous world records include Guinness World Records for ‘Most Knuckle Push Ups in a Minute’ and ‘Fastest Team to Run One Million Metres’ and Concept 2 World Record for fastest large team to row one million metres.
Chris started MM4M after making a promise to his sister in-
Chris is a 36year old, recently qualified orthopaedic surgeon. Previous world records include Guinness World Records for ‘Most Knuckle Push Ups in a Minute’ and ‘Fastest Team to Run One Million Metres’ and Concept 2 World Record for fastest large team to row one million metres.
Chris started MM4M after making a promise to his sister in-law, Phoebe Eales to raise money for melanoma. This promise was made in Phoebe’s final days, less than 18 months after her diagnosis. Phoebe identified the injustice that a young, fit, healthy person could deteriorate so quickly despite the most contemporary medicine available.
Motivation: I have 3 main motivators; 1. The desire to change the statistics to support those diagnosed with the disease. 2. My incredible wife and 2 young children; Lenny and Adelaide. I am aiming to make them proud and demonstrate that there is good you can do in the world. 3. The camaraderie of MM4M. Working with a team to achieve 2 goals that on the surface, seem unrealistic for a group of weekend warriors; To break endurance world records and raise an amount of money that will have an impact.
Quote - Where the determination is, the way will be found.
PLEASE DONATE TO CHRIS:
https://www.teamparf.org.au/users/chris-conyard
Nathan Schaefer
Nathan Schaefer
Nathan Schaefer
Nathan is the team’s training sergeant and has been a member of both the 2016 and 2018 Million Metres for Melanoma world record teams. “Sarge” works as a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon where his primary focus is removing melanomas and other dangerous skin cancers. He works publicly as a staff specialist at Princess Alexandra Hospit
Nathan is the team’s training sergeant and has been a member of both the 2016 and 2018 Million Metres for Melanoma world record teams. “Sarge” works as a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon where his primary focus is removing melanomas and other dangerous skin cancers. He works publicly as a staff specialist at Princess Alexandra Hospital and works privately at Brisbane Private Hospital.
Motivation: My grandfather died of metastatic melanoma in the week leading up to our 2016 Million Metres for Melanoma rowing world record, so I want to reclaim this title for him. I'm also here to help one of my best mates deliver on a promise that he gave to his sister-in-law just before she passed away from this disease.
Quote: The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in war.
PLEASE DONATE TO NATHAN:
Adam Parr
Nathan Schaefer
Chris Erian
Adam is a 36 years old, proud father of 2 year old Hamish and loving partner of 15 years, Diana Maher Allan.
Adam is an adult and paediatric spinal surgeon, working in Brisbane. He graduated with Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery in 2009. Having completed his training under the Queensland Orthopaedic Specialist training program,
Adam is a 36 years old, proud father of 2 year old Hamish and loving partner of 15 years, Diana Maher Allan.
Adam is an adult and paediatric spinal surgeon, working in Brisbane. He graduated with Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery in 2009. Having completed his training under the Queensland Orthopaedic Specialist training program, he has worked at most tertiary hospitals in Brisbane and rural Queensland.
Adam enjoyed a wide array of sports in his youth. At high school he was involved in rowing for many years. He was a member of the 2016 MM4M team, breaking the Concept 2 World Record for fastest large team to row one million metres. Since then Adam has enjoyed mountain biking, bushwalking, rock climbing and running.
Motivation: My whole extended family has been significantly affected by cancer. My mother was one of the lucky ones. She has had breast cancer twice and bladder cancer, all requiring extensive surgery. During this time her strength, joy and unwavering compassion for others has been remarkable. Mum has continued on her journey due to the advances of medicine over the last 50 years. I believe it is the responsibility of us all to promote medical research to improve the quality of life for our patients and families. I am doing the MM4M for her. In the process, I hopes to inspire my beautiful son to become a man of kindness, purpose and action.
Quote: “The visions we offer our children shape the future. ” ― Carl Sagan
PLEASE DONATE TO ADAM:
https://www.teamparf.org.au/users/adam-parr
Chris Erian
Michael Erian
Chris Erian
Chris is a 27 year old unaccredited Orthopaedic registrar working on the Sunshine Coast. First-time draftee to the MM4M cause. Chris is incredibly excited and humbled for the opportunity to join the team in raising awareness and funds for a pernicious and devastating disease. Chris describes it is even more exciting is to attempt the Wo
Chris is a 27 year old unaccredited Orthopaedic registrar working on the Sunshine Coast. First-time draftee to the MM4M cause. Chris is incredibly excited and humbled for the opportunity to join the team in raising awareness and funds for a pernicious and devastating disease. Chris describes it is even more exciting is to attempt the World Record with his twin-brother, Michael, and a great group of men. He is motivated by the shear enormity of the task at hand, having never really considered himself conventionally ‘fit’, outside of sporadic gym sessions when work permits.
Motivation: Having had family members speak to the ‘helplessness’ they experience when undergoing cancer treatment, I hope to in some small way demonstrate that progress is being made. I want to make my family proud and revel in that indescribable feeling when a cohesive collective achieves far beyond the supposed sum of their composite parts. Working as part of a team to achieve an athletic goal is something I’ve dearly yearned for since being forced to cease Rugby League football owing to an unfortunate combination of untimely injuries and obvious skill deficiencies. This fills that void and then some.
Quote: We know what we are, but know not what we may be.
PLEASE DONATE TO CHRIS
https://www.teamparf.org.au/users/chris-erian
Michael Erian
Michael Erian
Michael Erian
Michael is a 27 year old unaccredited Orthopaedic registrar in Brisbane. He describes being humbled, excited and nervous for the opportunity to break a world record, alongside his twin brother. Michael comes from a throwing and powerlifting background, claiming to never be considered conventionally fit. He believes that most wouldn't pu
Michael is a 27 year old unaccredited Orthopaedic registrar in Brisbane. He describes being humbled, excited and nervous for the opportunity to break a world record, alongside his twin brother. Michael comes from a throwing and powerlifting background, claiming to never be considered conventionally fit. He believes that most wouldn't put their money on him for an endurance world record. Michael is hoping his background will help in a small way for the row, but especially optimistic this discordance may make prospective donators a touch more generous when donating! He acknowledges that it is a mammoth task ahead, and he can't wait to rip in with an inspiring bunch of men, all of which he looks up to.
Motivation: Keeping my family proud, not letting the boys down, and pulling a world record with my brother will keep me motivated.
Quote: Those who believe they can do something, and who believe they can't are both usually right.
PLEASE DONATE TO MICHAEL
https://www.teamparf.org.au/users/michael-erian
John Alcock
Michael Erian
Michael Erian
Jonathan is o 33 year old, Anaesthetic Trainee. He states he was fortunate to be involved in the previous campaign for MM4M where the team broke the Guinness World Record for being the ‘Fastest Team to Run One Million Metres’ and raised funds for the RBWH Foundation and Melanoma Unit. When he was asked by Chris to be a member of that t
Jonathan is o 33 year old, Anaesthetic Trainee. He states he was fortunate to be involved in the previous campaign for MM4M where the team broke the Guinness World Record for being the ‘Fastest Team to Run One Million Metres’ and raised funds for the RBWH Foundation and Melanoma Unit. When he was asked by Chris to be a member of that team, he felt honoured knowing Phoebe Eales’ story and the previous MM4M campaign. He had only one possible answer, 100% yes! He feels privileged to have been given the opportunity to be part of another campaign raising much needed awareness and funds for research and treatment of melanoma.
Motivation: I am looking forward to working with the team to attempt to break the record for the ‘Fastest Team to Row One Million Metres’, although this will be a challenge given there isn’t a rower amongst us!
PLEASED DONATE TO JOHN
https://www.teamparf.org.au/users/john-alcock
Simon van Rosendal
Simon van Rosendal
Simon van Rosendal
Simon is a 38 year old orthopaedic surgery trainee and close friend of MM4M founder Chris Conyard, after meeting in medical school in 2009. Member of the two previous MM4M world record teams "Concept 2 World Record for fastest large team to row one million metres" and "Guinness World record for fastest team to run one million metres". S
Simon is a 38 year old orthopaedic surgery trainee and close friend of MM4M founder Chris Conyard, after meeting in medical school in 2009. Member of the two previous MM4M world record teams "Concept 2 World Record for fastest large team to row one million metres" and "Guinness World record for fastest team to run one million metres". Simon is inspired by the drive and passion that Chris (and the other MM4M team members) has to honour the memory of Phoebe and the resolve do everything they can to improve the prognosis of people diagnosed with melanoma. As a pasty redhead with a love of the outdoors, Simon had my first skin cancer removed while still a teenager and acknowledges the risk of melanoma is real. Melanoma has the potential to be a devastating diagnosis for young people, as it was for Pheobe. Along with Simon, his wife Anna also has a passion for promoting a healthy lifestyle for their young boys Lachie and Jack. Attempting endurance world records with a team of other 'every day' people, is great way for him to promote the benefits of regular exercise to his children.
Motivation: Like the rest of the team, I am particularly driven the dual goals of breaking endurance world records and raising enough money to have some form of meaningful impact on Melanoma diagnosis and treatment in Queensland.
Quote: If you're not in a hurry to get somewhere, why bother going at all
PLEASE DONATE TO SIMON
Tom Beaton
Simon van Rosendal
Simon van Rosendal
Tom is a 37 yr old Immunologist working on the Sunshine Coast. He works part time, spending the rest of the time spend with his young kids; 2.5 year old twins (Max and Sienna) and 5 month old (Teddy) as his partner Anna has returned to work. Tom was involved in the two previous MM4M world records - Guinness world record for fastest team t
Tom is a 37 yr old Immunologist working on the Sunshine Coast. He works part time, spending the rest of the time spend with his young kids; 2.5 year old twins (Max and Sienna) and 5 month old (Teddy) as his partner Anna has returned to work. Tom was involved in the two previous MM4M world records - Guinness world record for fastest team to run 1000000m on a treadmill and Concept 2 world record for 1000000m in a large team.
Motivation: My main drive to do MM4M is to raise money for melanoma that continues to kill young people, particularly in Australia. I previously played a lot of sport when I was younger including rowing and really enjoy being part of a team again.
PLEASE DONATE TO TOM
https://www.teamparf.org.au/users/tom-beaton
Dan Grant
Simon van Rosendal
Drew Armit
Dan is 36 years of age; a dad, scared of heights, guilty of road rage, in love with his wife, blessed more than most, strong, ferocious, an aspiring writer, a musical instrument enthusiast, and not defined by his past. Dan’s young family relocated to Adelaide 2 years ago. He loves doing life with his wife and 2 sons, Leonardo and Oliver.
Dan is 36 years of age; a dad, scared of heights, guilty of road rage, in love with his wife, blessed more than most, strong, ferocious, an aspiring writer, a musical instrument enthusiast, and not defined by his past. Dan’s young family relocated to Adelaide 2 years ago. He loves doing life with his wife and 2 sons, Leonardo and Oliver. Dan lives an active life because he see’s it as a key enabler to longevity as an active father. Dan is the only non-doctor of the group, his profession is commodity trading. Dan loves his job. He is accountable for the sales and trading section of a Top 20 ASX listed Energy company.
Motivation: There are 3 key deliverables for me in Million Metres for Melanoma. First, contributing to the world by helping others in need through raising money and awareness. Second, building a community and rapport with a group of like minded men. And third, demonstrating to my sons, through my actions, that it’s hard work, discipline and commitment that brings success to a life.
Quote: How you do anything is how you do everything.
PLEASE DONATE TO DAN
https://www.teamparf.org.au/users/dan-grant
Drew Armit
Drew Armit
Drew Armit
Drew is a 32year old Final year Orthopaedic Registrar Nickname: “The Anchor” Previous World Record: 2016 Concept 2 World Record for Fastest Large team to Row One Million Metres. Drew was introduced to MM4M by Chris in 2016 for the inaugural world record attempt. He was inspired to make what was seemingly an impossible task a reality, ra
Drew is a 32year old Final year Orthopaedic Registrar Nickname: “The Anchor” Previous World Record: 2016 Concept 2 World Record for Fastest Large team to Row One Million Metres. Drew was introduced to MM4M by Chris in 2016 for the inaugural world record attempt. He was inspired to make what was seemingly an impossible task a reality, raising over $130,000 for cancer research and rowing a million metres faster than anyone had done it before. Drew claims that watching the lads go onto break another world record with the MM4M run in 2019 only gave him more inspiration and fire to his desire to be involved when the next opportunity arose. Drew’s wife, Josephine, has been his biggest supporter; putting up the with endless sound of an ergo roaring away in the next room morning and night! Drew is sure she won’t miss it come June but that doesn’t stop her from offering regular encouragement to keep him on track.
Motivation: I thrive on a challenge that seems out of reach, especially when I get to do it with 9 other blokes who want it just as much as I do. The mateship that is born from going through a feat such as the MM4M record attempt/s is not easily obtained in other facets of life, which makes the experience all the more special!
Quote: “If you are going through hell, keep going!”
PLEASE DONATE TO DREW
https://www.teamparf.org.au/users/drew-armit