Janine's giving Cancer (and her hair) the Big Chop!

The Big Chop is done..but the fundraising isnt!!

Sunday 5th Oct

It was a great night on Friday at the Middleton Beach Bowling Club where the Big Chop took place. 

Karl Skalko began by shaving his head as a warm up to the main event. Prior to the Big Chop,  Janine's husband John and Vice President Ken Richardson-Newton provided some comic relief – offering some alternatives to the scissors (chainsaw, rusty handsaw & hedge clippers) before the donation tin went around for one last time.

Janine then took the chair and invited some special people affected by cancer to chop the five plaits of hair she will be donating for wigs. Bev Taylor was the first, in honour of her husband and daughter (whose 27^th anniversary of passing it was this week). Next was Trish, (a friend of Janine and John’s), who is currently putting up a brave fight against breast and lymph cancer. She was followed by one of our social members, Mary Williams, who has raised much needed funds for a radiation machine previously and now for the Cancer Care Shuttle which transports patients to and from the hospital for their treatments. The last two plaits were cut by another of our members, Joan Squelch who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and lastly by our former Treasurer and long time member Hugh Smith, who spoke eloquently about his experience with cancer and his gratitude for those like Janine who undertake fundraising to raise money for research and awareness.

It was an emotional moment with the final cutting of the last plait and a heartfelt thanks given by Janine to all those in attendance and who had donated.  More good news was delivered with the Management Committee of the Bowling Club announcing that the proceeds of the raffle that night would also be donated towards this worthy cause.

It's not too late if you would still like to make a donation as there are more still coming in before the final amount will be tallied - it will make such a difference in people's lives and is a small sacrifice.

I will post a total later on in the week as more funds come in - but I would like to thank everyone for their kindness, support and donations as I have undertaken this event - now to get used to life with short hair again!!

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Today is the day!!

Friday 3rd Oct It's finally here...the day of the big chop! The hair is plaited and ready to be snipped and sent away to make wigs and other products to help the environment. Thanks to everyone who has donated so far, you have helped me raise a lot of money for such a great cause - tonight at the event I will be rattling my tins for the final push to raise even more money for research and services to fight cancer.  It's not too late to hit that donate button and help me smash my fundraising goal and make the last couple of years of growing this hair very worthwhile. I'm looking forward to having some fun (and maybe a drink) to celebrate and I hope if you are in Albany you can come along and see the fun we're going to have. I'll post photos and videos of the chop if I can and even one of the new hairdo tomorrow when that happens. Thanks again everyone for your support - cancer affects us all but we can all do something to help fight back and make a difference no matter how small we think it is ! Share

We're almost there....

Tuesday 30th Sep Three sleeps to go.. as my granddaughter say when they're looking forward to a big event! And a big event it is indeed! If you've been following you can see that I have had to update my goal total as I have surpassed it thanks to my very generous friends and supporters.  However I can't stop now because I would really like to get closer to the total shown before the night. I have been out talking to people about my campaign,  and it's amazing (and quite devastating) how many  have been affected by cancer in their lifetime. They casually drop into conversation that they have had a bout with it, or someone passed away from it or someone they know is currently fighting it (thinking of you Shell Bell). If this is you and you haven't already donated - could you perhaps think about making a contribution in memory of that person and help me in the fight against this disease? The price of a coffee, or a drink, or a takeaway is all that is needed as it all adds up and make such a difference to someone who is fighting this disease. Thanks for following along - stay tuned as the big event is coming up and I'm ready to see the total go up - and my hair fall down to the ground!! Share

One week to go!

Saturday 27th Sep The count down is on with less than a week to go until the big chop happens! Thanks to all of those who have kindly donated and helped me get to my original goals of $1000 and $1200 - I'm hoping to get to $1500 before the week is through (not counting the cash donations on the night).  This is such a great cause as not only am I raising funds in the fight against cancer but the hair I'm losing is going to make wigs for those who also lost theirs in their fight with this terrible disease. If you have been seeing these posts but thinking that you'll donate later on please just hit the button now and donate whatever you can as any little bit can help - even the cost of one cup of coffee, a takeaway meal or a couple of drinks on a Friday night. Some of my friends currently fighting cancer have had to give up a whole lot more than that so my hair is just a small sacrifice to try and make a difference and possibly find the way to stop any others from having to go through the painful treatments required to fight back against this hateful condition. This is what I'm giving up - can you give up just a little bit to help me? Thanks a bunch and stay posted for another update before the big day.  Share

Getting closer now!

Wednesday 10th Sep Well, it's less than a month away and I'll be starting to really gear the fundraising up now! I've just had a huge donation of $500 from a very generous supporter so I hope this encourages all my other supporters to dig deep and sponsor me for this great cause. I'm doing this for Joan, Hugh, Tricia, Graeme, Leonie, Gay and many others who have had this terrible disease - some have  won, some have lost the battle and some are still bravely fighting on to beat it. I'm doing what I can and I hope you will too. I will be visiting some of my former workplaces and friends around Albany asking for donations so if you see me and my tin please drop some money in because every little bit helps!! Share