Australians urged to help shave the world from blood cancer

Published on 12 February 2019

The Leukaemia Foundation is calling for Australians to help them shave the world from blood cancer during the annual World's Greatest Shave campaign this March 13 - 17.

The much-loved fundraising campaign this year has an urgent message – it needs more help. The number of Australian's being diagnosed with a blood cancer is rising. Over the next decade the rate is expected to jump 30 percent over the next decade, taking the current diagnoses rate from 12,800 to 17,000 people as early as 2025.

There are currently 100,000 Australians living with blood cancer - and by 2025, close to 50 Australians will face a blood cancer diagnosis every day … or two people every hour.

World’s Greatest Shave started in Lismore, NSW in 1998 because of a daughter’s love of her father who was undergoing blood cancer treatment. The Leukaemia Foundation supported her family … and continues to support Australians living with blood cancer today.

World’s Greatest Shave has since grown to become a household name, involving more than 1.9 million Australians who have raised millions of dollars to help support the Leukaemia Foundation’s national research program, patient information and vital practical and emotional support services.

More than 700 kilograms of hair will be removed from Aussie heads in 2019 – with longer hair to be turned into wigs, and shorter hair to be recycled into environment hair booms which can be used at sea to soak up oil spills.

Schools, businesses, councils, individuals and teams in communities across Australia are urged to make 2019 the year they support World's Greatest Shave so the Leukaemia Foundation can continue to meet growing demand.

Sign up today at www.worldsgreatestshave.com  or call 1800 500 088.