Hair-raising amount collected for charity
Four CCGS students – Charlie, Talon, Oli (all Year 8) and Shaya (Year 9) – have banded together to form the ‘Coastie Shavers’, raising over $12,500 for the Leukaemia Foundation as part of the World’s Greatest Shave.
Each student had a different motive for why they wanted to take part.
Shaya chose to donate her very long hair to charity, saying: “My ponytail will be used to make wigs for cancer patients. While cutting my hair might be seen as trivial compared to the hardship of cancer patients, the money raised will contribute to research.”
Charlie has a very personal connection to the cause, as his dad has battled leukaemia. While Talon and Oli, as a show of mateship, wanted to support their friend Charlie in his fundraising efforts.
Read Charlie’s personal account of why he wanted to take part in the World’s Greatest Shave:
“On 29 October 2014, my dad visited the doctor for a blood test and check-up. He had been healthy and felt well. Later that day he received a phone call from his doctor telling him to go straight to the emergency department at the hospital.
After multiple tests, dad was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML). He spent the next six weeks in hospital during which he received countless doses of chemotherapy. This made him very sick and wiped out all of his blood cells. I wasn’t allowed to see him on his ward but saw him when he was feeling well in the hospital foyer.
Dad came home just before Christmas, but continued to receive chemotherapy for the next six months. During this time he lost a lot of weight and his hair.
Although it was hard for our family, we received support from wonderful friends and caring hospital staff. Dad was very lucky that his leukaemia was picked up before he became too ill- which would have been only days away. He responded well to the chemotherapy and has now been clear and well for nearly three years.
All of his hair grew back which he is happy about and he regained his weight and maybe a bit more!
Blood cancer is the third most common cause of cancer deaths in Australia. Each day another thirty-five people will be given the devastating news they have leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma or another blood disorder.”
