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All together for Josh DHAA’s Josh Galpin has recently been diagnosed with inoperable Metastatic Melanoma. Raising funds for hugely expensive treatment saw an incredible display of support by Alison Taylor
EARLIER THIS YEAR the DHAA IT representative, Josh Galpin, was diagnosed with Stage IV non-resectable (inoperable) Metastatic Melanoma. Josh had PET scans and tests, and was informed the initial lesion had spread to several organs including innumerable lesions on the liver, in the stomach and small intestine. This was,
for DHAA for over 10 years, giving his time and energy tirelessly, working on several sub-committees and projects, and initiating many developments, particularly related to IT and website planning and design. Josh has also played a pivotal role in influencing and educating his dental hygiene students, and has always loved watching his
precious family – his wife Corrinna (also an OHT), and children Reilly, Misha and Oliver – as they face some of life’s biggest challenges. So, with Josh and Corrinna’s blessing, a GoFundMe page was initiated and a core team of four (Kyla Burman, Alison Taylor, James Bosworth and Chloe Webb (OHT and Josh’s sister) collaborated ideas on how, as a dental community and
Enter the event code: ISDH2019
understandably, a complete shock for Josh and his family. Josh is a life member of the DHAA, a lecturer at TAFE SA, and was the first male to graduate from the Bachelor of Oral Health at the University of Adelaide in 2004. On Saturday, 31 August, 2019 dental hygienists, therapists, oral health therapists, dentists, plus family and friends from all around Australia gathered at TAFE SA for a fundraising event called ‘All Together for Josh’. Josh has been a dedicated volunteer
students grow into industry-ready professionals. After his diagnosis Josh’s oncology team offered a few treatment options, with the most ideal option – immunotherapy infusions – costing an unimaginable sum. Josh has commenced these treatments and is charged a vast amount per session. On hearing the news of his diagnosis and treatment costs the organising team were spurred on to take action. We wanted to support Josh and his
his friends, we could support Josh at such a time. This is when the ‘All Together for Josh’ fundraising event was created. Josh’s request was that we raise awareness, educate, expand knowledge and inform the dental community about melanoma, with particular emphasis on immunotherapy and how it relates to dental treatment, for it to be based on the latest supporting scientific evidence and of course to have some fun! So that’s what we did. Twelve guest speakers, a live webinar reaching individuals from
