Council colleagues Shave for a Cure!
Published on 16 March 2017
Four Rockhampton Regional Council colleagues, including Councillor Drew Wickerson, have today ‘Braved the Shave’ as part of the World’s Greatest Shave campaign!
Braving the clippers one-by-one, colleagues Kerrie Lodewikus and her husband David, Murray Smith and Cr Wickerson received a new ‘do in support of the Leukaemia Foundation.
Today has been more than just losing hair for Kerrie and David, it is an event to honour and remember their son, Daniel, who sadly lost his battle to bone cancer and also for the children who were fighting cancer alongside him.
“When my son was 13 I watched him battle bone cancer and unfortunately it was a fight he did not win,” Kerrie said.
“Since then, I have unfortunately watched other members of my immediate family and my friend’s families lose the same battle.
“Whilst my son did not have leukaemia there were many children in the hospital with him that did.
“By taking part in this event I am doing a small part to help raise much needed funds to give other victims of this disease and their families the best chance of beating it.”
With the rest of Council backing the team of shavers, they have managed to raise more than $2,500 and are still counting!
“I have received amazing support from Councillor Wickerson and my co-workers. Hopefully the funds we raise will provide help to a family that needs it as they go through the most difficult journey of their lives,” Kerrie said.
Councillor Wickerson said the money raised so far is enough to give at least four regional families a free place to stay close to treatment in the city for one week.
“Every little bit really does help, so I would like to take this opportunity to thank our many generous sponsors including the Honourable Bill Byrne Member for Rockhampton, staff of James Becker and Co., and Scott Conaghan for their amazing donations!” Cr Wickerson said.
However, Cr Wickerson says he doesn’t entirely agree with the ‘Be Brave and Shave’ slogan.
“I don’t fully agree with the slogan ‘Be Brave and Shave’, it’s the people with cancer having to endure extensive rounds of chemotherapy with no choice but to lose their hair, in addition to the other significant impacts of treatment – they are incredibly braver,” he said.
More than 60,000 Australians are living with blood cancer or related disorders, and every day another 35 people will be diagnosed.
Australian researchers are leading the way towards developing highly effective cures including optimising the effectiveness of stem cell transplants and gene splicing.