Ari McCormack's 'Big Shave for Krystal'

We are holding a head shave & auction at the Upper Hutt Cossie Club on the 14th November (4pm start time), to raise money for 20 year old Krystal Sloan-Meyrick who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in early September.

After intensive chemotherapy which is ongoing, she was informed last week that she is classed as ‘slow responder’ and will require at least 2 years of treatment. To add to that news she has now been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes as a result of the steroids she has been receiving.

Krystal has a 1 year old daughter Harper Rose, who is her absolute world and our extended family has been supporting each other to care for her as well.

Krystal’s Mum Angela has had to abandon her position as a midwife to be Krystal & Harper’s full time caregiver and although we are all taking shifts to give her occasional respite, Angela along with her husband Paul (Krystal’s Stepdad) are under extreme financial pressure and we want to ensure that they can keep their home.

Although Krystal is a tough cookie and has been incredibly upbeat throughout the numerous blood transfusions, bone marrow extractions, lumbar punctures, allergic reactions to different meds, & pretty much feeling like a human pin cushion, especially now with her daily insulin shots, we just want her to be as comfortable through this process as we can while allowing her family to rally around her unencumbered by financial hardship.

First and foremost, any proceeds raised from the auction will go towards Krystal’s care, eg: $80 fortnightly prescriptions, Food & drinks that don’t taste like poison to her (thanks to the chemo), any alternative non-Pharmac treatments she may want to try & also other things like clothing to fit her due to substantial weightloss.

As well as the additional care of baby Harper to consider, we also want to ensure that Angela can continue to be by her side, nursing Krystal by helping her & Paul with their travel and other expenses while Ange is away from home and unable to work.

Any help you can provide is very much appreciated.