By Renee Ciesla
The University of Western Australia hosted its sixth annual Relay for Life over the weekend, raising $85,000 for the Cancer Council.
The 24-hour event kicked off on Saturday afternoon, with participants setting up camp for the night and braving the weather.
Despite the event overlapping with Telethon, participants in the Relay for Life at UWA managed to reach an impressive overall total, with fundraising coming from teams and individual participants.
The Cancer Council’s Fundraising Coordinator Joanne Suckling said these events are very important for the organisation.
“They raise vital funds so we can continue reducing the incidence and impact of cancer in the community,” she said.
One UWA engineering student was prepared to go to extra lengths to help his fundraising efforts.
Allan’s look mid-shave
Twenty-one year old Allan Williams shaved his head in order to drive donations from family, friends and students around the UWA campus.
“Fundraising is quite difficult and so there needs to be some sort of niche behind it,” he said.
“After growing my hair for four and a half years I figured that this would be a good way to get it done.”
Allan’s current donation tally is sitting at $1,167, placing him in the top five individual participants for the UWA event.
“I’m really, really stoked with what I managed to raise and I’m pretty happy that everyone got behind it,” Allan said.
Ms Suckling said the Cancer Council is continually blown away by the dedication of fundraisers.
“We are amazed at the different ways people fundraise and their commitment to the cause,” she said.
“A head shave is particularly significant as it also shows solidarity with the thousands of people who are currently on a cancer journey.”
UWA’s Relay for Life is just one of the 18 events held in WA each year and has helped contribute to $14 million raised so far.
Watch Allan’s big gesture for charity below.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1o8Md4vlI4&w=560&h=315]