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Raising awareness for melanoma

  • Countdown plus 1 day

      5 November 2017

    Yesterday went awesome. Karen Gray aka Kaz and the team at the Man Cave made me feel relaxed. I go there early as i do and we chatted and waited for others to turned up.

    Shave was quick and painless.

    Samantha Emerson had text me earlier in the morning to say good luck and to keep still and don't lose an ear lol. I can fidget sometimes if i'm feeling nervous, which i was before hand.

    But Kaz was professional and it all went smoothly.

    Prior to the shave i went into the Women's Refuge Op shop which is in the same block as the Man Cave and found a cap to wear, if i felt i needed it.

    But surprising i haven't worn it yet.

    My head is a lot cooler now, didn't realize have thick my hair had grown and how hot it was. Last night dancing at RSA I didn't get as hot as I usually do.

    This now is not only a new look for me but also a new way in how i see myself. I think everyone has a part that they like about themselves, whether its there eyes or there smile or there legs. For me it was my hair. Why i tt grow long, as it blonds i felt it made me more attractive. I don't feel i'm attractive or handsome so i let my blonde locks grow long. When i was younger i used to have a fringe so i could hide behind it.

    Why i had been feeling nervous about getting my head shaved was for two reasons...

    1. Would it look ok? Would there be bumps and scars from my childhood? Would it be a funny shape?

    2. When my head is shaved i will look at myself differently. If i thought my blonde hair made me attractive then what would happen when its shaved off? How would i feel about myself then? Would i think i was now ugly?

    However after wards i didn't put my cap on, didn't feel i needed too. Jacquie and i met at Hollywood in Silverdale for coffee and i didn't feel awkward or anything. There were a couple from Rocknroll there and i chatted to them till Jacquie arrived and didn't feel out of place.

    Last night went to RSA and again nothing, no feelings of shame or been awkward. Everyone commented and congratulated me on what i have done.

    I would like to say a big thank you to Jacquie Gill Christine Jaineand Kath Carney for coming along and supporting me and taking photos and videos. I really appreciated it.

    The campaign runs till 15th December so still time to donate if you would like too.

    with warmest regards

    Grant

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  • Countdown 0 sleeps to go

      4 November 2017

    The day has finally arrived that i get my head shaved for melanoma. Leading up to today i have been feeling a little apprehensive but not today. Today I feel ready.

    The last 4 weeks have been awesome, I have met so many people and heard so many stories about how melanoma has effected there lives or the lives of someone they love.

    And yet we don't hear about. It doesn't make the news like the other cancers. Its almost a forgotten about.

    Is it because the other cancers have large organisations behind them raising awareness and running huge national fundraising campaigns that we get to hear about them?

    Or is it we hear about large pharmaceutical companies that are constantly searching for cures and trying to come up with new drugs that will make them huge profits?

    Last night at the Hibiscus Coast community RSA so many came up to me and chatted to me and congratulated me on what I'm doing. And they will see me tonight at RSA again with my bald head. I jokingly said they wont reconnise me.

    And was even told in uncertain terms that I had to come to RSA tonight as so many people have donated and will want to see me with my shaved head.

    As we were walking out Jimmy from Hibiscus Coast Rocknroll club made an interesting comment. He said he has noticed me coming out of my shell and becoming more confident within myself and its starting to show in my dancing, Which was kind of him.

    Everyone has been so kind and approachable and so chatty with me over the last 4 weeks its been so unreal for me. I usually the one helping someone else rather then been in the spotlight, so to speak.

    People laugh when i say I'm shy and an introvert but i am. Its only in the last 4 or 5 years that i have become louder, that i have found my voice so to speak. When I'm in large groups i still find myself been quite and sitting back and let others do all the talking.

    This morning I'm off to find a hat to cover my head, least i wont have to worry about "hat hair " lol

    Have a lovely weekend

    Kindest regards

    Grant

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  • Countdown 1 sleep to go

      3 November 2017

    As the day creeps ever so closer i am getting a little more apprehensive. I like routine and structure in my life and anything that is out of the norm gets me a little wound up, whether it be going on holiday or shaving my head. Or as Nolleen said at rocknroll "getting my head cut off".

    How much does hair actually weigh??

    I am wanting to lose weight so maybe getting my head shaved will help me. I weighed myself two weeks ago at a friends house and told her her scales lie, she said yes they do quite often lol.

    With one day to go i cant think of anything i can do now. What i have learnt is that fundraising isnt as easy as i thought. And its so hard to get our message out, to how our voices heard when everyone is constantly bombarded with noise and images.

    One of my goals is to become a fundraising coordinator for charities, specially animal rescues so i have a lot to learn.

    Thank you for reading and following my posts

    Wishing you a lovely day and weekend ahead

    Kindest regards

    Grant Kearney

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  • Countdown 2 sleeps to go

      2 November 2017

    Last night Karen aka Kaz messaged me to say at The Man Cave they have been collecting donations as well, so if you are in Silvedale and want to donate pop in and see them. They are in the old part of Silverdale opposite the Red Cross. Kaz was telling me they specialize in hot shaves with a cut throat razor .....I think i will stick with the buzzer thingie lol.

    This morning in the shower washing and shampoo my hair thinking only couple more days and i wont have to shampoo my hair for a while. Wondering how long it will take to grow back??

    My friend text me last night to say the total on my givealittle page has reached $900 woo hoo. At the start I was hoping to reach $300 plus but now i'm within site of the stretch goal i set myself.

    Also i have noticed over the last couple of days that other people are getting just excited as much as i am as the figure goes up.

    But whats next??

    After i have my head shaved what do i do then??

    I want to keep the campaign running for as long as i can so the message still gets out there and also gives people the chance to donate if they would like to.

    Maybe people are waiting till after i have my head shaved to know that i did it, that i actually did what i said i would and went through with it?

    Went searching last night for my beanie but cant find it. So i will have to buy a new one, or maybe i can borrow a hat form someone. That could be interesting lol

    Have a lovely day :)

    Warm regards

    Gran

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  • Countdown 3 sleeps to go

      1 November 2017

    The interview and video with Rodney Times came out yesterday online both on there Facebook page and stuff.co.nz if you haven't seen them go check them out and if you can share them it helps to get the message out. This has been the goal from the beginning is to get the message out "not to leave it".

    Yesterday i went around some of the local business next to where i work handing out my flyers, again found myself getting nervous about doing it. But i did it during my lunch break.

    Heard some horror stories again, seems as if nearly everyone has had melanoma or knows of someone who did.

    Last night at rocknroll i was asked if i planning on having my head shaved or a number 1 cut? What do you think? I think it should be a shave, mind you if its a number 1 cut it might not grow back curly.

    Thanks for reading my post and following my campaign and if you can share the video and article from Rodney Times this will help get the message out "not to leave it"

    my warmest regards

    Grant

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  • Countdown 4 days to go

      1 November 2017

    With the date approaching yesterday i was thinking what can i do now?

    With the little time left that i have what action can i take that i haven't already?

    So I thought i would put it out to you and ask....do you have any ideas? Is there some action i can do in the remaining time i have left?

    I still have Rocknroll tonight so will leave my flyers on the sign in table.

    There maybe a chance to hand out flyers at RSA on Friday night and even Saturday night. Least on Saturday night they will know i went ahead with it lol.

    And Rodney Times article will be printed in either today's or Thursdays paper. And they will post the video on there Facebook page.

    Have i done everything i can? Is there something more i can do to help push the total up over the goal?

    Any and all suggestions are appreciated :)

    kindest regards

    Grant

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  • Countdown 5 days to go

      1 November 2017

    Wow what a weekend. Came to Wellington for a Property Tutors seminar at the invite of Kurek Ashley who very kindly gave me a free ticket. While I'm keen to build a property investment portfolio I need to work on myself first. First area is my mindset. I will be the first to admit that my mind isn't also my best friend. Some of the thoughts I have are not nice or empowering.

    This campaign to shave my head has been a massive undertaking for me. Yes it's easy to get my head shaved, just go to any barber, however to fundraiser with a goal of $1000 is huge for me as I still see $1000 as a lot of money.

    To fundraise that amount I really have to work hard and to push myself to achieve it. I still have a lot to do to reach the goal but I'm start getting to feel that I will actually get there.

    I'm starting to believe in myself and that i can achieve more in my life than I am currently.

    Have a lovely my week

    Kindest regards 💛

    Grant

    P.s apologize no link yet you givealittle

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  • Countdown 6 days to go

      1 November 2017

    I'm in Wellington this weekend for a seminar. One of the speakers i want to hear is Kurek Ashley who very generously gave me a free ticket.

    I'm staying in the YHA Wellington. Another new experience for me. Being a newbie I have made all the rookie mistakes. Didn't bring soap, shampoo, towel or coffee. Luckily I could hired a towel for a $1. The other items I got from New World just across the road.

    There are storage cupboards in the dorm rooms however I needed my own padlock, which I didn't know to bring lol.

    There are 4 sets of bunks in the rooms and it's a mixed dorm.

    Off to find somewhere to have breakfast and then to seminar, which should take me a 15 minute walk. I will take a short cut and walk around the water front.

    I have a map so shouldn't get lost, fingers crossed.

    Have a lovely weekend 💛

    Kindest regards

    Grant

    P.s my apologies I still haven't worked out how to add the link to my givealittle page on my phone

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  • Countdown 7 days to go

      1 November 2017

    Yesterday I had my interview with Jay at Rodney Times. Chat and photos were ok however was nervous when it came to videoing me.

    Will post the video on my Facebook and givealittle pages when it becomes available.

    Last night at Stetson Club I was allowed to put my flyers on all the tables. And Peter the president of the Stetson Club got me up and introduced me and what I was doing when he was reading out the notices.

    I'm doing this by myself as im not part of a team or group so I don't have mentor or someone to guide me however I'm so amazed at the number of people who are helping me and giving tips and ideas. Im blown away with people's generosity. It has been a real eye opener.

    Warm regards

    Grant

    P.s I'm writing this update from my phone so unable to add the link to my givealittle....to be honest i don't know how to do it 😁😂😃

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  • Countdown 8 days to go

      27 October 2017

    With the possibility of been featured in the Hibiscus Matters and Rug Doctors monthly newsletter I realised that i had to extend the close off date for my givealittle page.

    Was set for the 8th of November so thought it best to push the date out further.

    I found i couldn't make the change myself so i emailed the team at givealittle on Wednesday night.

    When i got home last night from work i found they had extended the date to the 15th of December, so now i have allowed myself more time.

    Jane at my work said to post photos after i have my head shaved as people will donate then as well as they know i went through with it, which makes sense.

    So i will have someone takes photos as my hair comes off.

    The interview with Rodney Times got changed to today at 4.30

    Thank you for reading my posts and welcome any feedback :)

    warm regards

    Grant Kearney

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  • Karen Gray aka Kaz at The Man Cave

      27 October 2017

    I'm very.excitted and overwelmed to be apart.of Grant Kearney s fundraising also the importance of awareness..of this common deadly disease.. I to have experienced the scare myself.. the key is to have it seen as soon as you are aware of it ! Grants hair will be shaved off by me (Kaz) on Sat 4 Nov 12 noon at the man cave Silverdale. Please support Grant by either donating on line or coming to the shop to cheer him on with his dramatic long hair loss..woohoo !

    Karen Gray point of difference is that we have a retro themed shop and we also do hot shaves with cut throat razor. I personally specialize on current hair trends patterns and lines for men and school boys..I listen and have been told that customers like my attention to detail. I have also been a victim of melanoma

    https://www.facebook.com/silverdalemancave/

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  • Countdown 9 days to go

      27 October 2017

    OMG wow what a day yesterday. Couple of times i have to admit to being over whelmed and having a speck of dust in my eye a few times as the day went on.

    Gina at Rug Doctors where i work is going to do an article on me in the company's monthly newsletter that goes out to our customers at the beginning of each month and i had chat to her about it.

    The night before i had messaged both the free local community newspapers Rodney Times and Hibiscus Matters just explaining a little about what i'm doing and to see if they were interested in doing a little write up in there publications.

    I was thinking neither of them would be interested however was i was sooo wrong, they both want to interview me. Tonight after work I'm going to Rodney Times for an interview. As i'm a store-men at Rug Doctor i will leave work a little early so i can shower and change before i go.

    Whilst all this was happening Gina at work said that someone had made large donation. I was thinking it must be the rocknroll club as Noleen had said they would. And didn't think much of it till i had a chance to check my givealittle page. At this stage i was feeling a little over whelmed with the events so far.

    OMG the HIbiscus Coast rocknroll club had donated $500 to my givealittle page, i must admit i had a speck of dust in my eye at this stage. I saw Noleen at RSA club last night and had to go up to thank her.

    Noleen said the rocknroll club make a donation to cancer every year and this year they choose melanoma and my campaign.

    So I'm getting very excited and nervous at the same time as the day draws closer. Will keep you posted :)

    warm regards

    Grant Kearney

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  • Countdown 10 days to go

      25 October 2017

    Got a really nice surprise last night, Noleen the president of the Hibiscus Coast rock n roll club whilest reading out the notices to the club got me to stand up with her and she told everyone what i was doing.

    She even said the club will make a donation to my givealittle page as well.

    A lot of members of the club came up to congratulate me and some even gave me a donation, which i have donated on my givealittle page for them under there name.

    Also a lot people shared there stories of melanoma and cancer, it seems as if everyone has had there lives affected by melanoma or cancer, either themselves or someone close to them.

    I heard someone say that New Zealand has one of the highest rates per capita in the world for cancer???

    it seems to me it does :(

    warm regards

    Grant Kearney

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  • Countdown is on 11 days go to now

      25 October 2017

    I was having a chat to a friend the other day and i was asking when i get my head shaved will it grow back the same? Same colour? Same shape?

    Or will grow back grey or even curly?

    Apparently it should grow back the same but you never know

    I still need to create an event page on Facebook for when i get shaved, not sure how to do it but i'm sure cant be to hard, even for a technology dinosaur like myself lol

    Kindest regards

    Grant

    p.s setting up event page was easy except i couldnt add in the date as the month of November wouldnt come up as an option and not sure how to load it

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  • Rob's story

      16 October 2017

    Since i have started to share that im going to get my head shaved for melanoma i have been hearing so many stories.

    Rob where i work told me about his friend (who i wont name as cant ask him if its ok) found a small lump on his back.

    He went to the doctor before Xmas and was told to come back after the holidays as wasn't serious.

    After the holidays went back to his doctor who cut it out and sent it away for biopsy. The tests came back as stage 3 cancer. Then they did further tests and found spots on his lungs and kidneys and in other places. He went down hill very quickly to the stage he couldn't get out of bed. And was given weeks to live.

    Prior to that he had no symptoms and was fit and healthy except for the lumps. He had always been fit and healthy and no family history of cancer.

    He luckily got onto a trial drug with 500 other people and miraculous the spots started t disappear.

    He is still alive today. He was 50 at the time.

    Let me know if you have any stories you don't mind me sharing them.

    kindest regards

    Grant

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  • Struggling with asking people for donations

      16 October 2017

    I have to admit that i'm struggling with asking people to donate to my givealittle page.

    Friday night i took a long a little stack of flyers to hand out to the other tables at the RSA. There were about 40 people spread out on table around the room. Only i couldn't work up the courage to hand them out. Even at the table i sit at and have done so for the last 5 years.

    So last night been Saturday same scenario, again at RSA, this time there was about 100 people in the club, i thought i will do it, this is my chance. But again I chickened out and only asked one table of people of know really well who very generously donated.

    This is why im no good at sales as i cant ask for the sale. I'm great at customer services as i love helping people.

    At the Waikato pet show i was helping run a stall for Hazel the pitbull over a Saturday and Sunday, but i couldn't sell anything or ask for donations. So was a bit of a waste of time my neing there.

    But on Sunday it was totaly different. Someone brought in a puppy for us to have on the stand. This time i was in my element. I was out around the front of the stall getting everyone to hug or pat the puppy. Kids or adults didn't matter as i got them to stop at our stall using the puppy as bait lol. And i enjoyed it as i wasn't asking for anything.

    This has effected me my whole life, not been able to ask for help, so i struggle on my own, but i'm happy to help others but not myself.

    thanks for reading :)

    Warm regards

    Grant Kearney

    p.s any suggestions on how to promote my givealittle page is appreciated and welcomed :)

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  • Melanoma Stats

      16 October 2017

    what im finding out about melanoma while doing this fundraiser is just how serious it is. And that men are more at risk than women which i didnt know. Plus 70% of cases involve people who are 50 years and older.

    So i fall into that range been a man and over 50 years.

    Makes me feel even kinda silly that i didnt get my mole checked sooner than i did.

    .

    Melanoma statistics?

    • New Zealand has the highest melanoma incidence rate in the world.

    • More than 4000 new cases each year including melanoma in situ

    • In 2013 there were a total of 356 deaths from melanoma in New Zealand - 232 men and 124 women.1

    • Melanoma rates in New Zealand appear to be increasing. Between 1999 and 2013 rates of registration

    showed an upward trend for both males and females

    • Melanoma is the most commonly registered cancer in men aged 25 – 44 and the second most commonly

    registered cancer in women of the same age group. 1

    • 70% of cases occur in those 50 years and older

    • Death rates from melanoma are higher among men and appear to be increasing.

    for more information visit https://www.melanoma.org.nz/

    Please share this message we need to encourage people not to leave it

    Warm reagrds

    Grant Kearney

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  • When was the last time you had a mole check?

      13 October 2017

    last Sunday was sitting at church chatting to the couple next to me. I was telling them about me shaving my head for melanoma and the reason i was doing it was to raise awareness. we were chatting about how woman have regular check ups but men don't. I mentioned that i see the breast screen van in Orewa all the time. We had a laugh over if it was a prostrate check it would be empty as men wont go. For me its not about the money. Yes i have set an amour to raise however i'm still getting my head shaved whether i reach the target or not. Its about raising awareness and not leaving it and hoping it will go away. I don't want people to do what i did. I had a mole look-a-like on my neck which seemed to get bigger every year but i left it. Now looking back was a stupid and foolish thing to do as it could have been worse. It wasn't until my boss at work put the fear of god into me by saying that it looked bad and i should do something abut it ASAP that i finally did and went to see a skin specialist. It wasn't a mole and he freeze dried it off. I quite often hear people say" if only they had caught it sooner" and that could easily have been me. So don't leave it have regular skin check ups, it could just save your life. Please share this message so we can get it out to as many as we can. Thank you Kindest reagrds Grant P.s i have set up a givealittle page if you would like to donate if not thats ok however please share this message thank you

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