BY CATHERINE ALLEN AND MAVIE PEDRO
Hunter residents are preparing to shave, cut or colour their hair in support of the World's Greatest Shave, which kicks off across Australia today with around 20,000 Australians supporting the cause.
Through the iconic Australian campaign, funds were raised to support the 100,000 Australians experiencing blood cancers including leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and Myelodysplastic Disorder (MDS).
The demand for the Leukaemia Foundation services have already reached an all-time high, and a boom is predicted over the next decade.
"The pressure on our services, which include emotional and practical support and the provision of vital, disease-specific information and education, will only continue to grow and be put under pressure," said Leukaemia Foundation CEO Bill Petch.
The need for the foundation's patient accommodation service has also increased.
This critical service affords families from regional areas in need of support a home-away-from-home, free of charge.
Marianne Trimbell the Community Relationships Coordinator for the Leukaemia Foundation in the Hunter says that every day 35 people across the nation are diagnosed with blood cancer with that number expected to rise to 52 people daily by 2025.
"It's our 21st year of having World's Greatest Shave which is one of our main fundraising activities.
"A very big part [of allocated funding] is our driver's service which takes people to and from appointments. We drive as far as Port Stephens up to the lower Hunter, out to Awaba and Morisset areas into the John Hunter and Mater hospitals".
"We've had over 2 million people take part in shave in the last 21 years, so put your hand up and be one of them".
If you want to support the Leukaemia Foundation's World's Greatest Shave or sign up for the event, please visit www.worldsgreatestshave.com or call 1800 500 068.
