MEL Reed is no stranger to fundraising and she has now joined forces with Allendale East Area School colleague and friend Verity Rice with their latest campaign coming to fruition this weekend.<\/p>\n
The duo is part of the Leukaemia Foundation\u2019s World Greatest Shave, losing their locks on Sunday at the Tarpeena Hotel, with the shave slated for 2pm.<\/p>\n
Their campaign officially started last July and they have hosted events, sold lucky squares and raffle tickets and an online donation portal with the moment of truth now only a couple of days away.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s a really important cause,\u201d Verity said. \u201cImagine if they could cure blood cancer \u2013 it affects so many people from little kids to really, really old people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Such has been the support for Mel and Verity, they have continued to eclipse their fundraising goals and they are now aiming for $20,000 between them.<\/p>\n
A successful online auction really kickstarted the flow of funds to the campaign and the support from local business to support their many and varied fundraising efforts, along with the willingness of the community to dig deep has been overwhelming for the duo.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt blows you away how kind people are and how quick they are to support a good cause,\u201d Mel said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is amazing the generosity of some of our local businesses,\u201d Verity said. \u201cIt\u2019s actually quite humbling.\u201d<\/p>\n
From a Bunnings Sausage Sizzle to a market day at the school, from lucky squares to an Easter raffle to the bidding for the privilege of helping shave the ladies\u2019 locks, the target is getting ever closer.<\/p>\n
The support from the school community has been one of the highlights for the fundraising duo with the kids really embracing the lead up to Sunday\u2019s shave.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe kids at school had the opportunity to pay 50 cents a week to get the chance to choose what colour we would spray our hair,\u201d Verity said.<\/p>\n
It proved a fun side project as part of the World\u2019s Great Shave campaign seeing Mel and Verity often spotted at school with rainbow-coloured hair.<\/p>\n
It has also been a great way to raise awareness in the school community of blood cancer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really wanted the kids to learn something and for the kids to have some sort of involvement \u2013 the school has been so generous,\u201d Mel said.<\/p>\n
While there is always the understandable apprehension about being bald, both Mel and verity have committed to growing their hair in the past eight months for maximum impact when they eventually lose their locks, and they know, unlike many cancer patients, their hair will grow back and quite quickly.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome people don\u2019t have the luxury of hair growing back quickly,\u201d Verity said. \u201cIf someone gets a laugh at my expense and donates money to the cause for the chance to see me with no hair then I am fine with that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The efforts of Sarah Stratford and Elivia Stanley as the unofficial marketing team have also been pivotal in Mel and Verity\u2019s fundraising \u2013 ensuring the social media presence of the campaign.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is also amazing when you hear from people you haven\u2019t seen for a long time but they want to help in some way,\u201d Mel said.<\/p>\n
You can still head to the World\u2019s Greatest Shave website and donate online for either Mel or Verity or head to the Pines Hotel in Tarpeena on Sunday to watch the girls go bald as promised.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MEL Reed is no stranger to fundraising and she has now joined forces with Allendale East Area School colleague and friend Verity Rice with their latest campaign coming to fruition this weekend. The duo is part of the Leukaemia Foundation\u2019s World Greatest Shave, losing their locks on Sunday at the Tarpeena Hotel, with the shave […]<\/p>\n