World's Greatest Shave participants shedding hair for family

That’s the attitude of Sunshine Coast grandmother Louise O’Reilly, who is shaving her head this month for the Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave.

She’s doing it for her eight-year-old grandson, James, who was diagnosed with blood cancer late last year.

“It’s nothing special, hundreds of other grandmothers would do the same,” Louise told The Senior.

A teacher’s aid at Eudlo and Palmwood state schools, Louise has resolved to keep her hair short until James is better. She’ll take the plunge at a fundraising day at James’ school at Palmwood on March 13.

“James said ‘Nanny, you don’t have to. It’ll look funny.’ But when it’s your own little possum, you do what you can.”

James was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia on December 6. Just two weeks prior, his family thought a small abscess on his tooth was making him unwell.

“In just 10 days, he went from having a tooth pulled to being in Lady Cilento Hospital with a leukaemia diagnosis. 

“I can either sit and cry all the time or get up, pull my big girl panties up and get on with it. The last thing James wants you to do is sit and cry over him.”

At time of print, Louise had raised more than $1100 of her $2000 goal – largely donated from friends, family and the school community.

“It’s very humbling and overwhelming that people want to help,” she said.

“If I can help anybody through any of this, that’s a wonderful thing because I know what my family has gone through.”

Donate to Louise at bit.ly/2USF7YA.

GAYE Keir has a date with the clippers on her 70^th birthday.

She’s shaving her head in memory of her brother, John, who died last year from leukaemia treatment complications, aged 66.

“I want to draw attention to the repercussions of treatment,” Gaye said.

John was first diagnosed in 1996, but his leukaemia didn’t activate until 2008. In 2009, he had a stem cell transplant, but developed Graft vs Host Disease as a result. 

He developed multiple skin cancers on his head, which became the brain cancer that killed him.

Gaye is hoping to raise $1000 for the Leukaemia Foundation with her shave at Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall on March 15.

“I think having my hair removed is a small price to pay for the treatment of blood cancer and to raise awareness of the treatment consequences,” she said.

“[John] was a man of few words, but he would have been quietly pleased.”

Gaye is shaving on her birthday because in her family, birthdays are a reason to get together, remember and be grateful.

“I didn’t get to 70 by myself. I’ll remember my brother and be grateful.”

Donate at bit.ly/2TK2cMJ

MORE than 12,000 Australians will develop leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma this year – or 35 people every day.

These types of blood cancers claims the lives of more Australians than breast cancer and melanoma.

Money raised from World's Greatest Shave funds blood cancer research and free support through the Leukaemia Foundation. 

This year, the event aims to raise more than $16.2 million.

More details at worldsgreatestshave.com