Title

More than $2000 raised for World’s Greatest Shave at Notre Dame

Document Type

Media Release

Publication Date

Fall 4-5-2012

Publisher Name

The University of Notre Dame Australia

Publication Place

Fremantle

Abstract

The sounds of buzzing electric clippers echoed around The University of Notre Dame Australia’s Prindiville Hall as brave staff and students from the Fremantle Campus shaved, coloured and waxed their hair for the Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave.

Fourth year Health and Physical Education student Michael Brinsden joined five other team members on Wednesday, 18 April, to raise awareness about blood cancer and much needed funds for cancer research.

Mr Brinsden’s team raised more than $2000 for the Leukaemia Foundation. Health and Physical Education Lecturer Rob Merrells volunteered to have both his head shaved and legs waxed for the occasion.

Mr Merrells signed up in support of his younger sister Jess who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2009.

He raised more than $650 for the cause. Fremantle Dockers’ utility Matt de Boer also offered his assistance during the shave, swapping the Sherrin football for a waxing strip to remove the hair from Notre Dame student Kane Mitchell.

“Today was about raising awareness of cancer in the university community,” Mr Brinsden said.

“The take home message from the World’s Greatest Shave event at Notre Dame was ‘the six degrees of separation’. If cancer doesn’t affect us directly, then there is a strong possibility that we have a friend or family member who has been affected.”

The money raised from the World’s Greatest Shave funds free services to support patients and their families, including information, emotional care and accommodation for regional Western Australians required to move closer to city hospitals for cancer treatment.

It also funds vital research into the treatment and prevention of blood cancer. Notre Dame students coordinated the event as part of the Heath Promotion unit in the School of Health Sciences.

MEDIA CONTACT: Shelley Robinson: Tel (08) 9433 0610; Mob 0408 959 138 Leigh Dawson: Tel (08) 9433 0569; Mob 0405 441 093

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