Kathy Gardiner describes herself as a writer and creative, a (sometimes) reluctant speaker, a whole-foods foodie; a cancer thriver; an awareness renegade and patient advocate; a joy seeker; a vintage collector and most importantly a fur-mama!
Kathy Gardiner was first diagnosed with melanoma at the age of 25 (in 2006 while living abroad), and was later terminally diagnosed with Advanced Metastatic Melanoma three days before her 33rd birthday.
At the time of prognosis there were limited treatment options available. Kathy became a successful recipient of early stage compassionate access to a ground-breaking immunotherapy treatment in mid- 2014, and has been clear of the disease since October 2015.
Kathy is a keen patient and health advocate, writer and illustrator. She is a passionate campaigner for expedited (and financially attainable) access of new medicines to patients and a strong supporter of positive mind and wellbeing practices to compliment conventional medicine. Kathy’s mantra in life is to open the world’s eyes and hearts to living a positive; joy fulfilled and nourished life by following her mantra to… Love. Accept. Believe. Nourish. Live. Kathy shares her honest journey with the world through her website, The Naked Gardiner.
Kathy’s advocacy work has seen her speak at The 9th Asia Regulatory Conference in Tokyo, Japan and several times at the Australian Parliament House (Canberra), the Peter McCallum Centre (Melbourne) and at various forums throughout Australia on behalf of Melanoma Patients Australia, with a highlight being a personal conversation with the Prime Minister of Australia (The Hon. Mr Malcolm Turnbull MP) and being quoted within Parliament Question Time.
In her spare time, Kathy is a keen creative with a love of the arts, sustainable fashion, travel, vintage, family and her naughty little French Bulldog, Winston.
Kathy is also a Director and Founder of The Naked Gardiner Foundation, (a registered not-for-profit Australian health promotion charity) whose purpose is to promote community awareness of melanoma, particularly in young people and to provide direction to support information, solutions and gifting benefits for young adult melanoma sufferers and their families to reduce the burden that follows a terminal diagnosis.
The Foundation seeks to bring hope and harmony to the lives of melanoma patients and their loved ones. ***Presently Kathy and the team of Directors are taking a small hiatus from the Foundation to focus on personal endeavours and family matters.***
