Hair-raising night for a good cause

By Melissa Meehan
PEOPLE suffering from leukaemia don’t get to decide if or when they lose their hair; cancer treatment often makes that decision for them.
Yarra Valley residents are making the most of their ability to make that choice, as they prepare for the Leukaemia Foundation’s 10th World’s Greatest Shave on 15 March.
Seven Healesville residents will shave their heads in front of friends and family on Saturday night to raise money for the foundation.
Cameron Rowan is currently undergoing treatment for leukaemia and has organised for the night to have a party atmosphere.
“We are going to have the ‘shave off’ at the Grand Hotel, there will be bands and DJs there, and it should be a great night,” Cameron said.
Cameron said that after spending the last year without hair he is choosing to keep his hair this year.
“I’ve become a bit fond of having hair on my head.
“But my mates have jumped on board and we hope to raise over a grand.”
Local bands and DJs the S&M Project, Wasted and Space Monkey, are tipped to perform at the ‘shave off’.
Cameron still has more than a year of chemotherapy left before he can be given the all clear.
Three Yarra Glen Primary School students will say goodbye to their long locks in support of the World’s Greatest Shave.
Grade six students Jacob, Aaron, and Sam have raised just over $430 between them for the cause.
Shaving his hair off for charity is no mean feat for Sam, who shaved his hair off at the same time last year.
“I saw an ad on TV last year, and thought it would be fun and interesting,” Sam said.
Sam’s mother Kath Nicholson said Sam had not cut his hair since he shaved it off last year.
The boys raised money for the cause by asking friends and family to sponsor them, even asking their parents’ work mates to help out too.
Funds raised will ensure the foundation can improve patients’ quality of life through personalised and practical care.
This includes the provision of home-away-from-home accommodation near major treatment centres, information and emotional support, education programs, transportation to and from hospital, and practical assistance free of charge.
Money raised will also fund vital research into better treatments and cures.
Leukaemia is the number one childhood cancer in Australia and the fifth most common form of cancer in Australia.
To register call 1800 500 088 or online www.worldsgreatestshave.com.