THREE much-loved community members shaved their beards for a cause last weekend.<\/p>\n
Mick Ellis along with Simon Bradley and Graham Turnbull shaved off their beards to raise funds for the leukemia foundation.<\/p>\n
Mr Ellis, who has been a teacher and active community member for over 40 years, was diagnosed with blood cancer at the start of February.<\/p>\n
Jaymee Ellis, Mr Ellis\u2019 daughter who encouraged him to take part in this shave and said the event is a nod to his past.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a bit of a full circle story because 11 years ago almost to the day dad did a shave for a cure event at Ross Creek Primary School where he was a teacher,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was famous for having a beard and one of the kids dared him to do it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe thought let\u2019s try and raise some money and awareness and it\u2019s the first time in the 11 years since that he\u2019s shaved his beard off.\u201d<\/p>\n
The event was hosted by the Smythesdale Country Market with local barber Heaven & Earth providing their skills for the shave.<\/p>\n
Visitors could also get their hair spraypainted in crazy colours for a gold coin donation.<\/p>\n
Ms Ellis said the support from the community was outstanding.<\/p>\n
\u201cDad\u2019s really active in the community so he\u2019s really well known but the outreach of support has been quite incredible,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had people reach out to him that he hasn\u2019t seen in 10 years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mick Ellis hopes the money raised can have an impact where it is most needed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure the people in charge of the research know where the money will be best spent and we\u2019re confident they\u2019ll spend it where it\u2019s going to be best used,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is something that can affect anyone, and I don\u2019t care what sort of disease it is, if we can get a handle on these things and make it easier for people than all the better.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THREE much-loved community members shaved their beards for a cause last weekend. Mick Ellis along with Simon Bradley and Graham Turnbull shaved off their beards to raise funds for the leukemia foundation. Mr Ellis, who has been a teacher and active community member for over 40 years, was diagnosed with blood cancer at the start […]<\/p>\n