Paediatrician to Shave Head in Support of Kids

Monday 26 November 2007

Paediatrician to Shave Head in Support of Child Cancer

Dr Ian Shaw, Southland Hospital Paediatrician, is putting his hair in the line in an effort to raise funds for the Child Cancer Foundation this Monday 26 November at 1.30pm in the Children’s Ward.

Dr Shaw said that the Child Cancer Foundation provided an extremely valuable support service for children living with cancer and he was keen to support their annual “shave your lid for a kid” promotion.

“I’ve seen the great work that the Child Cancer Foundation do with our Southland oncology children and their families. They provide much needed financial and social supports for these families and also work as advocates at a national level,” Dr Shaw said.

On average there are three new diagnoses of child cancer each year in Southland.

“For some children, their treatment course will take around six months. More often the treatment course is longer. But for all of these children there is the ongoing surveillance for ‘late effects’ - whereby other health problems develop as a result of the aggressive cancer treatment.”

“I’ve been growing my hair specifically for this fundraiser and am also giving my permission for the highest bidder to have the privilege of shaving my head.”

Dr Shaw confirmed there would also be a “hair dresser” on standby to tidy up any “uneven” shaving work.

This is not the first hair raising moment for the paediatrician. In 2000 he shaved his head and beard (no longer in existence) to support Canteen. Needing his arm to be twisted, he only agreed to do it if donations reached a $2,000 target. Donations totalled $2,500 and there was no turning back.

Child Cancer Foundation donations are being collected by the Children’s Ward staff with over $500 pledged this week. Two unnamed bidders are also fighting for the opportunity to shave the head and are ringing each day to up their bids to be the highest.

Photo/Film Opportunity - Dr Shaw’s head will be shaved off in the Children’s Ward at 1.30pm, Monday 26 November and all media are invited to capture the locks dropping the ground.

ENDS

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