Shaving for Melanoma

Hi everyone!

I am shaving my head and donating my hair to Freedom Wigs New Zealand, which makes wigs for people with Alopecia, Cancer, and various conditions in which those people live with long term extensive hair loss.

As well as donating my hair to Freedom Wigs, I am raising money for Melanoma New Zealand in memory of someone very close to my heart - my darling Poppa who lost his battle to Melanoma in 2013.

March 2018 marks 5 years since he lost his battle, so I will be shaving my head on March 8th (my 23rd birthday) as a tribute to him.

I've been planning on doing this for a long time now and I have been growing my hair out for over two years to fit the criteria for someone to be able to donate.

As well as my personal experience, I'm a documentary editor for a television company called Attitude, which makes documentaries on people living with disability, chronic health and mental illness, which plays a big part in why I'm doing what I'm doing.

The money that I raise will go directly to Melanoma New Zealand, which will help them with research, early prevention and bringing awareness to New Zealanders.

If you know me, you already know how crazy I am about sunblock and I've probably forced you to wear it multiple times.

Melanoma is the most severe type of skin cancer, and New Zealand has the highest incidence rate in the entire world! 3000 Kiwi's will be diagnosed with melanoma every year, and 300 Kiwi's die from melanoma every year. My poppa was one of them.

But it can be prevented!!

Having witnessed my Poppa's suffering from Melanoma alongside my family, I do not wish it upon anyone, and I want to do as much as I can to raise awareness. It's not taken seriously enough in New Zealand.

Please support me and the many Kiwi's living with Melanoma, Alopecia, Cancer and all those living with long term extensive hair loss.

Thanks in advance for your support!

Loren xx