Hannah Hammoud
Community spirit has always run deep in the Macedon Ranges. And when twelve-year-old Kai set out on a personal journey to honour his late father, it soon enough transformed into a collective community mission as Hannah Hammoud reports.
Last December, on his final day of grade 6, Kai participated in the World’s Greatest Shave (WGS), to help raise money for cancer research.
The World’s Greatest Shave is the single biggest source of income for the Leukaemia Foundation, which uses the funds to provide vital support to blood cancer patients and their loved ones, as well as fund ground-breaking research, in the hopes of one day finding a cure.
Kai’s decision to take part in the event stemmed from a deeply personal experience after losing his father to brain cancer when Kai was just seven.
While the World’s Greatest Shave raises funds for people living specifically with blood cancer, determined to make a difference, Kai resolved to shave his head and raise money in an effort to prevent others from enduring a similar loss to the one he had to endure.
Despite the challenges of organising the fundraising effort, Kai’s dedication proved unwavering. With the support of his school and local community, he managed to raise an impressive $3,000.
“I heard about the World’s Greatest Shave after my dad passed. It was an easy decision for me to take part in it,” Kai said.
“The shave was held in the school courtyard and I had it all in braids. Then I chose some friends, and some of the big donors to chop parts of my hair. Then we had the shaver and everyone got to take a turn and shave a little bit of my hair.”
As the clippers buzzed and locks of hair fell, the local community rallied behind Kai’s cause.
Lavinia Zirnsak, Kai’s mother, highlighted the overwhelming support Kai received from various quarters of the community.
“Some of the kids made posters in class inviting people to come down to the shave and everybody also brought a gold coin donation – some people more than that. On the actual day we had $300 in just gold coin donations,” she said.
Ms Zirnsak said a couple of budding student entrepreneurs took it upon themselves to collect marigold seeds to sell at the local organic store.
“They actually raised about $157 just doing that, and they decided to donate it to Kai’s cause,” she said.
“The school and the wider community were extremely supportive and amazing. The school community was really good with liaising and promoting Kai’s cause in the newsletter. The Wildlife Op Shop was awesome, they had a box out there to take donations, as well as the Macedon Ranges Theatre where lots of people donated.
“We’re very lucky that we live in such a beautiful community where people are very generous and supportive.”
After growing his hair for three and a half years before eventually shaving it off – Kai said he is sure there is another hair transformation for him on the cards, vowing to again take part in the shave sometime in the future.
“The World’s Greatest Shave is an excellent cause. I definitely want to shave my hair again. I feel excellent all round… I feel like it was one of the best decisions of my life,” he said.
“If you’re thinking about the World’s Greatest Shave, there is nothing better than the feeling of knowing that someone is going to be happy. With you chopping your hair off you’re almost immediately saving at least one person with cancer, because every single cent will go towards this wonderful cause. I hope that if you are thinking about doing the World’s Greatest Shave then you should do it.”
The World’s Greatest Shave is officially held during March, with this year’s campaign celebrating the everyday heroes in the community doing ‘bloody beautiful’ acts of shaving, cutting, colouring, or donating.
The Leukaemia Foundation reports that more than 140,000 Australians are currently living with blood cancer, with more Australians diagnosed with blood cancer now than ever before.
Moorabool local Annie Dunn is one of those 140,000 Australians living with blood cancer.
Annie works as a kindergarten teacher and has been living with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) for seven years. She said it was an emotional day when she was finally provided with some clarity after her diagnosis.
“I was sick for years before we found out I had cancer. There was a long journey trying to figure out what was going on, and probably eight months into that journey I got referred to a haematologist,” Annie recalled.
“I remember that meeting, we sat and he told me that I was sick and told me that I had CML… I just remember I cried. I cried for two reasons, one because he told me I had cancer, but not only that, I finally figured out what was wrong with me, and so it was also a bit of a relief.”
Amidst her health struggles, Annie remained steadfast in her commitment to her career, at the time pursuing studies in early education.
“It was overwhelming,“ she said.
“I was so busy studying I didn’t have time to stop and think about it until I finished studying at the end of the year.“
Annie found some solace in her diagnosis, recognising the need to prioritise what truly matters in life.
“I don’t take crap from anyone anymore, and prioritise things in life and focus on what really matters. A lot of young adults focus on mundane, silly stuff. But this has made me realise I don’t have time for that,” she said.
Annie’s journey has been made easier with the support of the Leukaemia Foundation’s Blood Cancer Support Coordinators (BCSCs). Donations made through initiatives like the World’s Greatest Shave, have helped ease the burden for Annie and her family during times of need.
“The World’s Greatest Shave is worthwhile, it’s worth being able to do that and contribute to a really awesome cause,” she said.
“I shaved my head before I lost my hair. I decided I wanted to be in control of that and it was great. I like having short hair, it’s an easy look to rock.
“Thank you to the people who donate and support the World’s Greatest Shave. It is a brave thing to shave your head.“
