Sunday, November 28, 2010

Locks shed in name of solidarity

A dozen people went into the Salvation Army hall in Blenheim yesterday with full heads of hair, but left it all behind in the name of cancer and solidarity.

Initially eight men and women signed up to have their heads shaved to raise money for the Cancer Society and support Blenheim woman Sylvie Shanks, who has stage-two breast cancer, but four others decided to join in during the festivities.

Those having their heads shaved ranged from eight to 71.

Mrs Shanks' husband, Craig, said the couple were "disgusted" by the theft of about $350 cash and $200 of petrol vouchers from the Cancer Society in Market Place in October and wanted to raise money to replace it.

More than $2200 had been pledged, about $1400 of which was raised by one woman, and more was expected, he said.

Mrs Shanks, who is undergoing chemotherapy and will soon have radiotherapy, was grateful for the "tremendous" support and prayers from the community.

"It's been hard for us, but we can still laugh," she said.

It would take time for her to get used to seeing friends without their locks, but she had seen her husband bald before.

SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 29/11/2010

Craig Shanks
DEREK FLYNN
NEW DO: Craig Shanks and 11 others shaved their heads to support his wife, Sylvie Shanks, who is battling breast cancer, and to raise money for the Cancer Society.

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