Ted’S IMPACT WRAPPED HAS DROPPED
The final numbers are in. Check out Ted’s World’s Greatest Shave Impact Wrapped and discover how their funds will help Australians with blood cancer.
Help me take a stand against blood cancer
Hello There!
Welcome to our page! Currently, we are gearing up for a hair-raising battle against blood cancer.
A blood cancer diagnosis is a life-changing experience that effects hundreds of thousands of Australians every year. Not only does blood cancer affect the diagnosed, but its impact also extends to family, friends, and the community around them. This is where the Leukaemia Foundation comes through, providing valuable research and resources to keep families together in their fight against the invisible cancer.
One personal experience with the Leukaemia Foundation that the Hair Harvesters would like to share with you is the story of my Mum:
Once upon a time… it was, in fact, a Wednesday in April 2021, a fit, healthy 53-year-old mum of three young men went off to work. A seemingly normal day. She came home feeling tired, breathless and a bit achy. She put this down to exhaustion, but colleagues worried it was Covid, so she took Thursday off to be on the safe side. By Friday night she was so unwell her partner was unusually insistent she go to the emergency department.
“I don’t need to go.” She avowed, hands on hips. Or would have had she had the energy.
By Saturday, her plans to do a jewellery-making course were thwarted by an early morning admission to hospital and an afternoon diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. “Blood cancer?” She asked, or stated, or heard, embedding a bewilderment that would last to this day. “But swam 25 laps of the pool yesterday morning?” Chemotherapy started on Monday.
Eight brutal rounds of Chemotherapy forced the ALL into remission, but to stay in remission she needed a bone marrow transplant. And on December 2, 2021, she received her sister’s stem cells. A process from which she is slowly, but surely recovering.
It was and remains completely bewildering, this sudden onset, life-threatening, wholly transformative event.
So a happy ending? Well yes. This is my story, and I remain in remission, have gone back to work, competed at the World Transplant Games and cherished every moment with those I love.
But I could not have done it alone. My partner, kids and family are the most amazing supporters. Thank you. I am sorry for the toll I know my disease put on you. I am grateful every day to my sister who donated her stem cells.
My team also included the Leukaemia Foundation. Like Knights in shining armour, they bring the most needed, necessary practical support. I often wonder if my outcomes would have been so successful without them. When things got very scary, like when I was told to put my affairs in order, they provided counselling. When information was too much to take on board, their experts helped describe it in accessible l ways. When the kids needed help to understand – the Leukaemia Foundation was there for them too.
And when having a bone marrow transplant meant spending 100 days in Sydney, away from my family and needing somewhere to live in a very expensive city, the Leukaemia Foundation provided accommodation. They donated groceries and, away and in isolation over Christmas, a hamper delivered some festive cheer and treats amid the loneliness and financial strain.
Two years later, they continue to provide real, practical support on the breadth of topics that impact the life of a person who has experienced blood cancer. Support groups on treatment, exercise, mental health, identity, relationships, finances, returning to work, fatigue and transition. Support for carers, partners and kids.
They support the research community through funding, and by linking researchers to people with lived experience.
And the moral to the story? There are two:
One, if you have symptoms like bone pain, breathlessness, and fatigue – don't ignore it, check it out. My story of diagnosis is not unusual. Blood cancers progress quickly.
And the second moral. You can make a real difference in the lives of people who experience blood cancer by supporting the World's Greatest Shave. I really hope you will donate to this campaign because it really, truly helps.
Thank you, Leukaemia Foundation. Thank you for your support; you are amazing.
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 $146 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!
$1
$250
$560
$4,800
$10,000
Thank you to my Sponsors
$71
Samii Cowan
$71
Tom Delaney
Welcome to the no hair gang
$60
Helen Jenkins
Great work Ted!
$59.20
Scott Carle
Go Ted. A very worthwhile cause.
$55.95
Mackenzie Dreyer
$28.81
Ellie
$23.81
Naomi Zhao
Good on you Ted! Your hair still looks great!
$23.81
Rachel Barrer
Go Ted!! 🙌
$20
Clare Rodgers
Nice work T&T
Parker Financial Services & BLA Parker
View Team Page
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.
