24/08/2026
Some races are about far more than the finish line. ❤️
This September, Noosa Tri Club member Dr Michael Besser will stand on the start line of IRONMAN 70.3 Sunshine Coast.
And he’ll do it at 80 years old.
Michael is racing in memory of his friend and colleague, Professor Richard Scolyer, who died from brain cancer in June, and to raise funds for Brain Cancer Australia.
Michael first met Richard in the 1990s , where Michael remembers a young doctor who was thoughtful, humble and quietly determined. Richard would go on to become a world-leading pathologist, helping transform melanoma treatment and improve outcomes for patients around the world.
When Richard was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2023, he brought that same determination to his own illness — continuing to advocate for research and, when he was able, continuing his love of endurance sport and triathlon.
It inspired Michael to do something pretty extraordinary himself.
Michael is no stranger to endurance sport. A retired neurosurgeon, Chair of Brain Cancer Australia and long-time triathlete, he has represented Australia, completed 10 Ironman events and raced the Ironman World Championship in Kona at the age of 72.
But he says this race may be his toughest yet.
The eight-hour cut-off will be a challenge. Michael knows that.
In a letter published after his death, Richard wrote that he hoped he would be remembered as someone who “gave it a crack.”
Michael says:
“That’s exactly what I’m planning to do.”
Michael, we reckon this represents so much of what our sport — and our club — is about.
Friendship. Purpose. Courage. Showing up. And continuing to give things a crack, regardless of the number on your birthday cake. We’ll be incredibly proud to see you on that start line.
And we suspect there will be quite a few Noosa Tri Club voices out on course making sure you know it.
If you’d like to support Michael his fundraising link is below
www.braincanceraustralia.org.au/fundraisers/michaelbesser415/ironman-for-brain-cancer
Go well, Michael. We’re all behind you.