Over the last two weeks special guest, Loma Willis, has visited Monday assemblies to share her story of founding the World’s Greatest Shave. Loma’s husband was diagnosed with Leukaemia in 1998 and after travelling from a rural town for treatment, and discovering that there were no mobile phones in the hospital for her husband to stay connected with family, they decided to raise money to purchase a phone.
They decided to fundraise by shaving their heads, aiming to raise $4000. After 208 people joined in the shave, much to their surprise they raised $80,000! The following year the Leukaemia Foundation in Queensland decided to make the event an official fundraiser and raised one million dollars. Since then, the Foundation has raised over 400 million dollars through the yearly shaving events!
These days, the money is used to fund accomodation so family can stay close to the treatment centres of thier loved ones, transport for patients who are susceptible to infection so can’t use public transport, and research. Since the beginning of the World’s Greatest Shave in 1998, the survival rate for children with Leukaemia has risen from 60% to 90% proving fundraising and research MATTERS.
This year, over 70 students are participating in the World’s Greatest Shave on Friday, either colouring or shaving their hair.
Head to the World’s Greatest Shave website here to sponsor our team before Friday!
