Cecily Barstow, 11, with 3-year-old brother Graydon.
Cecily Barstow, 11, with 3-year-old brother Graydon.
There will be some cold heads when Kiwis lose their locks for Shave for a Cure week, which aims to raise $2 million. Belinda Feek spoke to some participants.
Friends Jan Skelton and Colleen Curtis
Colleen Curtis, 76, successfully beat uterine cancer while her best friend, Jan Skelton, 74, has lost friends and family to various forms of the disease.
The pair, who live on Waiheke Island, will this morning shave their heads at the island's Family Barber as a mark of respect to them and others affected by cancer.
Jan Skelton, 74, and Colleen Curtis, 76, are best friends.
Mrs Skelton lost six colleagues to cancer when working for a large corporation in Auckland. She was also left feeling helpless after losing her brother-in-law Murrae Henderson to cancer, while her best friend of 50 years, Dianne McQuoid, lost her sister to cancer.
Mrs Curtis lost her husband to cancer 17 years ago, while she had a full hysterectomy six years ago after beating uterine cancer.
George Hardy and sister JenIt had been a while since Jen Hardy had spoken to her brother, George, who lives on the North Shore.
But since finding out he was diagnosed with the terminal blood cancer multiple myeloma last year, she has been in constant touch.
The Huntly woman said getting involved with Shave for a Cure wouldn't help save her brother, but it would raise awareness and funds for other cancer sufferers.
"It's not going to cure him but it's all going to help in the bigger scheme of things. If it can help someone else not dying, that's cool."
Mr Hardy last week had his bone marrow harvested and is on the waiting list for a stem cell transplant that would make his remaining years more enjoyable.
Barstow family
Lower Hutt mother of two Amathaine Barstow has vowed to continue to shave her head until the treatment for her 3-year-old son Graydon is complete.
That's about four years away, but it doesn't bother her, or 11-year-old daughter Cecily, or husband John, who are also taking part.
Graydon landed awkwardly while playing on a trampoline and broke his leg in February last year. In hospital tests were done on red spots on his body which revealed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
The "shaved" family are urging others to get on board.
Ambury Hall
There will be a party-like atmosphere when Ambury Hall and four others from the Selwyn Village retirement home in Pt Chevalier shave their heads on Wednesday.
Mr Hall said the village choir would sing John Denver's Annie's Song when he and fellow residents Bruce Lovett, Joanna Warren, Noel Miller and Robin Bourdot complete the shave outside the hairdressing salon.
He had hoped to raise $100 but had tripled that so far. "These poor children don't have much so it's the least we can do, so we thought we would make a song and dance about it."
Justine Ballantyne
North Shore resident Justine Ballantyne took a slightly different approach to her shave.
Justine Ballantyne from the North Shore lost her locks during a shave at her work on Friday.
She let the highest bidder choose a crazy haircut for her to sport for 24 hours before shaving it off completely.
Justine Ballantyne from the North Shore lost her locks during a shave at her work on Friday.
She works for insurance company Fidelity Life, whose staff take part every year.
The Kenyon siblings will never forget their grandmother. Darland, 12, Bailey, 11, Ryan, 8, and their sister Michelle, 8, took part in this year's shave after losing Marlene Griffith in 2013 to cancer.
The Waitakere boys shaved their heads at the WXC speedway event at Western Springs on Saturday night and, not to be outdone, Michelle cut her ponytail off and donated the funds to Pantene Beautiful Lengths.
Jen Hardy with her brother George, who has cancer.
Shave for a Cure
• Organised by the Leukaemia and Blood Cancer Foundation of New Zealand. • 1211 people have enrolled to shave their heads so far this year. • $431,447 raised by 5pm yesterday. • Goal to raise $2 million. • Six Kiwis diagnosed with a blood cancer or related condition each day. • Visit www.shaveforacure.co.nz to donate or get involved.
