Angie Dimmock and her late husband Dean, who was treated at Flinders for prostate cancer and lymphoma before passing away in 2023, have both been passionate fundraisers for Flinders Foundation for many years, supporting prostate cancer research carried out by Associate Professor Luke Selth and his team.

And whilst Dean, a past City-Bay participant himself, will be sadly missing from the starting line this year, Angie and her team of family and friends are ‘Doing it for Dean’, and taking part to continue Dean’s fundraising legacy. Running alongside them will be A/Prof Selth.

Angie, her daughter Alyce and granddaughter Orla (pictured) recently caught up with A/Prof Selth and his team, touring their lab in the Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer to see the research in action and hear about how their fundraising has helped
make a difference.

This includes funding a specialised incubator, which replicates the environment in the human body to grow cancer cells and tissue.

“This is a critical piece of equipment for our group that we use every day,” A/Prof Selth says.

Together the prostate cancer research team is tackling the disease from multiple angles, including developing new therapies with fewer side effects; exploring how to make prostate tumours more sensitive to immunotherapy; and looking at how prostate cancer becomes resistant to current frontline hormone therapy treatments.

“One thing that Dean told me very early on was about the side-effects of his treatment, some of which are really horrible…this conversation was crucial in prioritising our research that aims to develop not only more effective therapies, but therapies that are associated with better quality of life,” A/Prof Selth says.

“The relationships you build with patients and their loved ones is such a key part of research, but it’s often overlooked. I’m very grateful that I’ve developed this relationship with Angie, Dean and their family.”