Over the past 12 years, the Marilyn Jetty Swim has been a fixture of the Channel 7 Brighton Jetty Classic and sees hundreds of South Australians swim or paddle 400 metres around Brighton Jetty – all dressed as ‘50s icon Marilyn Monroe.
This year the iconic event will head poolside for the first time, welcoming the Marilyns to Marion Outdoor Pool on Sunday, 8 February.
In 2013, Lee booked in for her regular breast screening after receiving a reminder letter in the mail. She was perfectly fit and healthy and had no symptoms. She was completely shocked when the test found cancer in her breast.
It looked very small, so the doctors suggested a non-invasive lumpectomy would remove it all and she wouldn’t need any further treatment. Unfortunately, when Lee went back for her results, it was much worse than initially thought.
“They said I’d have to have a mastectomy, which was obviously quite shocking because that hadn't ever been discussed or even talked about as a possibility. It was a terrifying time. There’s so much uncertainty around the diagnosis, then the fear of surgery and treatment,” Lee said.
“I personally don’t know what I would have done without the support Cancer Council SA provides. When I was going through chemo, I felt so sick. It honestly felt like I would feel that way forever.
“But Cancer Council SA connected me with other women who had been treated for breast cancer. They were amazing and I’m so thankful. They knew what I was going through and showed me that I wouldn’t feel that way forever. I could come back from it.”
Lee has taken part in every Marilyn Jetty Swim since the first in 2014, watching the event grow from 50 Marilyns in 2014 to more than 760 South Australians taking part last year.
This year she’ll take part in the very first Marilyn Jetty Swim: Poolside Edition, which will mark her 13th time donning the blonde wig and red lippy to raise funds and awareness for South Australians impacted by cancer.
“I remember I was living in Queensland when Sarah rang me and said she was doing this ridiculous thing to raise money for cancer – dressing up as Marilyn Monroe and swimming around Brighton Jetty. And it was only a few weeks later that I found out I had cancer,” Lee said.
“That first year, so many people were cheering us on. It was just really quite empowering to be part of it. To me, even 13 years later, it’s even more exciting because it’s so huge. I really do feel very honoured to be part of something that is supporting women, particularly those going through any kind of cancer.
“It's quite euphoric. You just get that Marilyn costume on, the wig on and you just take on this whole other persona.
“This year we’re heading to the pool, and it will be a different experience, but equally as fabulous. I’m looking forward to meeting some new Marilyns who perhaps haven’t had the courage to take part before and hearing their stories – because all of us have been touched by cancer, that’s why we do it.”
Since local community fundraiser Sarah Tinney launched the Marilyn Jetty Swim, the incredible Marilyns have raised over $1.6 million to date for South Australians impacted by cancer.
Every dollar raised through the Marilyn Jetty Swim: Poolside Edition helps Cancer Council SA provide life-saving prevention programs, world-class research and support services like our Cancer Council 13 11 20 Information and Support Service that are making such a difference.
Online donations to support our Marilyns can be made at themarilyns.org.
