17 Feb Billericay lady, 64, shaves head for childhood cancer fundraiser
Southend Tangent Club dinner boosts fundraising total to £1400 amount
A lady from Billericay had all her hair shaved off this week at Cut U Up hairdressers in Southchurch to raise vital funds for Gold Geese, a local children’s cancer to support children and young people fighting cancer in the Southend and Basildon areas.
Ruth Sage, 64, hopes to raise £1500 for the charity through sponsorship for her head shave, organising a fundraising dinner at Zen City and selling her homemade crochet items to friends and colleagues.
Ruth’s hair is being donated to Little Princess Trust, so it can be used in real hair wigs for children and young people who have lost their own hair due to cancer treatment.
Gold Geese provides practical and emotional support to local families of children and young people fighting cancer. Support is tailored to each family’s needs and ranges from funding for mental health therapy and food shop vouchers to toys, weekend trips away and practical help with travel to and from hospital.
Ruth Sage says:
“I’m Chairman of Southend Tangent Club and chose to support Gold Geese this year as it’s such a worthwhile charity. My hair will grow back and although it’ll be chilly for a while yet it’s a small price to pay to help local families affected by childhood cancer. I’m a keen crocheter and have already knitted myself a new hat to help my head while it’s still so cold out.”
Katie Southgate, founder of Gold Geese, says:
“We’re hugely grateful Ruth has chosen to support Gold Geese as we rely on community donations such as these to help local families affected by childhood cancer, we receive no government funding.
“Ruth’s head shave is especially brave at this time of year and is a brilliant way of helping raise awareness of childhood cancer and encouraging people to make a donation if they’re able to.
“Around 1,900 children are diagnosed with cancer every year, and it causes a huge upheaval for everyone in the family – emotionally, physically and often financially. Gold Geese is there every step of the way for local families affected. Our slogan is ‘We Fly Together’, because geese are a team and no one is left behind.”
- A donation of £20 could provide toys or comfy new pyjamas for a child with cancer staying in hospital
- £45 funds an hour’s counselling session for a bereaved family
- £280 funds a memorial bench for a child who has passed away
- £400 funds a big end of treatment celebration for friends and family
- £700 covers the cost of a weekend away for a family to offer respite
To donate visit www.bit.ly/RuthHeadShave
You can also donate to Gold Geese via text. Text GOLD followed by the amount you wish to donate to 70580 (for example, GOLD 50 to donate £50). Texts cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message.
For more information about the charity or to learn the signs and symptoms of childhood cancer visit www.goldgeese.org.
