Malthouse said his first Cycle Classic experience showed him how single organisations like football clubs could be so insular, when this was an event with all sorts of organisations chipping in to support a homegrown body whose work had universal benefit.

He could hardly wait to get back on his bike in February for a second year as event ambassador for Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute’s major annual fundraiser.

“I’ve never forgotten my roots, never forgotten Ballarat is the place where I grew up,” Malthouse said. 

In officially launching the Classic on Friday, Malthouse paid tribute to FECRI director George Kannourakis, who had helped his family, and particularly his wife Nanette on her breast cancer journey.

Malthouse lost both his parents to cancer, his brother-in-law and two 1980 Richmond premiership teammates. Touring FECRI facilities, Malthouse found equipment donated in the name of former football teammates in Ballarat.

“It’s such an outstanding Institute to be involved in as a start. If you haven’t had contact with cancer at some description you’re a very, lucky person because nearly all of us at some stage have friends relatives have been affected by someone dying from cancer or from having to go through the treatment process,” Malthouse said.

Olympic marathon runner Steve Moneghetti has long been involved in the event and enjoys the challenge of the 85-kilometre road ride. Moneghetti said what struck him most at the launch was how messaging about cancer was gradually changing.

“I love the comment (from Professor Kannourakis) that cancer is such a negative word but it will get to such a stage with the research George and his team are doing that it will be if you’ve got cancer, they can say, ‘okay, let’s treat that’ and life goes on,” Moneghetti said.

FECRI is the only regional cancer research institute in regional Australia. The Institute has made internationally recognised work, most notably in immune studies.

Professor Kannourakis said he could see massive turnarounds in the next five to 10 years in cancer treatment, from the work his team had contributed to. He said events like Ballarat Cycle Classic ensured key personnel at the Institute could continue working toward discoveries.

Eventually, cancer would be something people need no longer be afraid about, Professor Kannourakis said at the Classic launch.

“I did suggest immunology is the way we’re going to be treating cancers. The problem is, we only know part of the equation, we only know certain parts of it,” Professor Kannourakis said.

“We haven’t discovered all the proteins yet that are involved in causing the fog over many cancers. Each individual has their own fog. It’s not a common fog for every cancer. It’s going to be an interesting exercise to try and find out what the formular is for each individual cancer.

“We might see eventually a progress in five years’ time, or maybe less, when we do a fine biopsy of any cancer we might be able to assess what proteins are expressed that shouldn’t be there and then work out a formula for what antibody is most appropriate for patients.

“That means leaving out chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy as a way to treat these patients.”

Registrations are open for the Ballarat Cycle Classic, which will be on February 17. The Classic features a range of road rides, mountain biking, a family lake ride, a pet walk and a new 28km family adventure ride. Details: ballaratcycleclassic.com.au.