A MOUNT Evelyn girl is taking the plunge to go bald in support of leukaemia sufferers, raising thousands of dollars for a cause close to her heart.
Cassie Linley, a 26-year-old artist and nursery worker, will be shaving off her hair on Saturday 16 March in the World’s Greatest Shave, hoping to raise $10,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation.
After a family member was diagnosed with cancer in the past, Ms Linley said she had wanted to participate in the shave for a very long time.
“I coloured my hair in one of the events, but something always came up to stop me,” she said.
“This time, I just said ‘I can’t put it off forever’ and I decided to do it.”
“Cancer in general is something really close to me and I thought I’d support something related to that.”
Ms Linley said that after rattling tins at events across the Dandenongs and receiving a cubby house from her father to sell, she’s raised about $2000 – a fifth of her overall goal.
“I did set quite a big goal,” she said. “It’s a big cause, so why not aim high and push myself?”
Ms Linley, who wants to be an art teacher, said that her family and friends have been extremely supportive of her fund-raising efforts.
“My boyfriend was a bit anxious about the shave,” she laughed. “But everyone is excited, getting behind me and helping me out – it’s really great.”
The World’s Greatest Shave provides important funding to the Leukaemia Foundation to care for patients and families living with leukaemia, lymphomas and related illnesses and research treatment and cures.
Raising $1200 for the Leukaemia Foundation can provide free transport to over 200 patients and carers to travel to hospital for a month, while $2000 can fund a major blood cancer research project for a week.
Ms Linley said that she would like to hold an event on the day of the shave and is looking for a venue that could host the event and help to contribute to her goal.
“I’d like to have a barbecue or a raffle, to help us raise as much money as possible,” she said.
Those interested in hosting an event for the World’s Greatest Shave are encouraged to call 1800 500 088 and host kits are available, along with promotion on the website.
Entries are still open for the World’s Greatest Shave and potential participants can sign up online, where they will be able to keep track of their sponsors and of their fundraising efforts.
The World’s Greatest Shave will be held from Thursday 14 until Sunday 17.For more information on the event, visit www.worldsgreatestshave.com.
To sponsor Ms Linley for her shave on 16 March, call her on 9736 3662 or email casstar_8@hotmail.com.
