By Chris Tanti, CEO of the Leukaemia Foundation
The Leukaemia Foundation’s much-loved national fundraising campaign, the World’s Greatest Shave, is back for its 27th year encouraging people to shave, cut or colour their hair to raise critical funds for the 150,000 Australians living with blood cancer.
As the Leukaemia Foundation’s biggest fundraising event of the year, the call for participation in the World’s Greatest Shave has never been more urgent, with new data revealing blood cancer is on track to become Australia’s most common and deadly cancer within a decade – unless we act now.
What we know is that while the incidence of blood cancer in Australia has soared by 79 per cent in the past 20 years, in that time only 12 per cent of blood cancer research funding has been directed towards early detection and prevention of the disease – proportionally well below that of other leading cancers.
It means that while blood cancer research to date has made significant strides towards improving treatment and care options for patients and their families, unfortunately, the critical issues of prevention and early detection of the disease remain unsolved.
It might surprise readers to learn that blood cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Australia. And yet, you cannot prevent blood cancer, nor can you screen for it or make lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of being diagnosed – it’s Australia’s silent and hidden cancer crisis.
With around 1 in 12 Australians projected to receive a blood cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, it is essential, now more than ever, that Australia invests more funding into blood cancer research focused on early detection and prevention, while continuing to bolster support services for patients and their loved ones.
Everyday Australians, like you and me, can do their part by signing up to the World’s Greatest Shave to shave, cut or colour their hair to support the growing number of people living with blood cancer.
The Leukaemia Foundation has a bold goal of raising $12 million through the campaign and we cannot do it alone. Every strand of hair you change will help make a difference in the lives of Australians impacted by this disease and hopefully, one day, find a cure.
We urge the Australian community to sign up, or donate directly, to the World’s Greatest Shave today by visiting worldsgreatestshave.com or calling 1800 500 088.
