Help me take a stand against blood cancer
How it all came about...
I am a football (soccer) coach on the northside of Brisbane, Australia. I was running an Easter Holiday clinic at a club just about 5 years ago now. Two of our sons were also teaching at the clinic and our youngest was attending. They were off in the U10-U12 groups and I had the U7/8 group.
We had an odd number of players in my group so I joined in the exercises. In one of the events I avoided running over a 7 year kid, stepped on a ball and seeing as it was early in the morning, dew on the pitch, the ball slipped out from under me and I fell over, onto my shoulder and was successful in relocating the ligaments holding my shoulder together.
The clavicle slid out of my shoulder socket and was facing north (didn't break the skin but you could push it down). 6 weeks later I had reconstruction. Shaved the clavicle, put it back in the socket, two drill holes through said clavicle, wires, screws and another drill hole through a bone under my shoulder, run the wires and another screw to hold and away we go.
The first night in hospital I could not sleep so at 3am I am up walking the halls, drinking coffee, watching TV. On one of my trips around the ward a women comes out of her room and says "I have seen you walking around, I can't sleep either, can I join you?". "Sure, let's get a cup."
During our meeting, she mentions that a friend of hers would have loved to have had my hair. Salt and pepper coloured, (more salt than pepper now) and thick. "You know what," I replied. "We are in lockdown, or about to be (Covid at the time), I am a stay at home Dad, I will grow my hair out and donate it, in respect to your friend." I didn't ask the friend's situation, guessed.
I was completely unaware how long it actually takes to grow out hair, but haven't minded one bit. And now here we are, five years later, hair down to the middle of my back and ready to donate. Please, donate with me. If not hair, or colouring your hair, then join me with another gesture.
I am booked into the World's Greatest Shave's public event at the West End Markets on 28th of March in Brisbane/Meanjin.
Any amount – big or small – will make a real, tangible difference.
Before
After
Check out my before and after!
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Your Impact
Help me earn the Place to Stay badge. That's enough to give a regional family a week of free accommodation to stay close to treatment.
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Wrap Around Care
Raised $50,000
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Research Outcomes
Raised $25,000
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Clinical Trial
Raised $10,000
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Financial Support
Raised $7500
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Discovery
Raised $4800
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Transportation
Raised $2500
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Personalised Treatment
Raised $1000
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Place to Stay
Raised $560
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Helping Hand
Raised $250
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Lab Equipment
Raised $53
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Off the Mark
Raised $1
I’m $245 away from my next impact milestone. Please help me reach it.
Donate nowMy Achievements
Help me earn the Discover badge. That’s enough to fund 3 months of laboratory costs for a research project to discover better treatments for blood cancer.
I’m $4040 away from my next impact milestone. Please help me reach it.
Donate now
Signed Up!
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Your support is changing lives with the Leukaemia Foundation
50 years of supporting Australians with blood cancer
The World's Greatest Shave is the flagship fundraising initiative of the Leukaemia Foundation, Australia’s only dedicated blood cancer charity. This iconic campaign helps us continue to provide wraparound blood cancer care for Australians with blood cancer.
And with blood cancer rates continuing to rise, our work is far from over. Fuelled by our community of patients, carers, healthcare professionals, researchers, specialists, and supporters like you, we’re committed to continuing our work in providing life-changing support services, funding groundbreaking research projects, and advocating on behalf of patients and families.
A wonderful gesture. Proud of you, cuz.