The Return of the Chop - Katherine

Why The Chop?

I’m taking the ACRF Hair Dare to support Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) in their mission to achieve a world without cancer.

Six years ago (to the month), I shaved my head to raise funds for ACRF after the passing of my beloved cousin to a rare and devastating cancer. Since that time, my world has been rocked by the cancer diagnosis of many more loved family members and friends. Some of these individuals have lost their cancer battle, some are still fighting and some, fortunately, are in remission although they have scars (both mental and physical) that will last forever. Motivated by their struggles, I am once again going to cut my hair and donate my very thick auburn locks to “Wigs for Kids”.

In choosing a cancer charity to support with my fundraising efforts, I thought very carefully about who and what I was raising money for. To select one type of cancer research was impossible… I have loved ones who have battled breast cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, renal cancer, blood cancer, prostrate cancer, bowel cancer, skin cancer, renal cancer, heart cancer and so many more … No type of cancer is worthy of more funds than another - all are equally devastating and life altering. Therefore, I have chosen to support ACRF which funds research into ALL types of cancers, not just one. The funds go towards cancer research which has the highest possibility of success and is used to purchase technology, equipment and infrastructure that may be shared by several major cancer research institutions and many researchers. Thus, your donation can potentially support multiple advances and breakthroughs.

Since 1984, approximately $174 million in funding has been distributed to 82 cancer research projects across 43 institutions Australia wide. I have personally been a part of a melanoma trial that was funded by ACRF and will hopefully revolutionise the way that skin cancers are detected and treated. With 2 in every 5 Australians set to be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 85, we will all have someone we love affected by cancer at some stage of our lives – and it may even be ourselves.

Please join me in taking some positive action against this scourge. Your donation CAN make a difference.

“Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” (Mother Teresa)