Ash Bolt
Two Bellarine Community Health staff are going above and beyond to do their part for the health and safety of the community.
Alexandra Mrak and Kathleen Mangan are taking a stand against blood cancer by taking the ‘bald’ step to shave their hair as part of the Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave.
Both said they had always wanted to shave their heads and the idea to participate came up over a tearoom chat.
“Kathleen and I came up with the idea to shave our heads and literally motivated each other to pursue the goal,” Alexandra said.
“When we brought the idea to our colleagues, they spurred us on and we thought it would be a great idea to donate to a worthy cause, hence the World’s Greatest Shave.”
The World’s Greatest Shave aims to raise funds to support people diagnosed with blood cancer.
“As we both work in the health sector, we see the impact that cancers have on families and we both felt it would be great to contribute towards a cure by raising funds to help with research,” Kathleen said.
Both Kathleen and Alexandra said they were nervous and excited by the idea of having their heads shaved, but that was overshadowed by their pride to be supporting the cause.
“I am proud to be doing something outside my comfort zone by shaving my head,” Kathleen said.
“I’m also proud to be raising funds for a valuable cause and to be representing my colleagues and BCH in some small way.”
Alexandra and Kathleen are actively fundraising from the community but they’re also donating their own pay packets to the cause.
Between them, the ladies are cashing in a week’s annual leave as a donation.
The ‘big snip’ will take place outside Bellarine Community Health’s Point Lonsdale site from 11.30am on Thursday, March 17.
The BCH staffers are hoping to attract a crowd of onlookers and use a sausage sizzle on the day to also help them raise more funds.
Donations can also be made online at bit.ly/3tddZpJ
