Hannah’s heroes ready for a close shave
Supporters get shaved for Hannah at a previous event
(CNS): The third annual Heroes for Hannah fundraiser is expected to attract more than 1,000 people to watch razors in action and raise money for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation for childhood cancer research.
The event, set for Friday, 11 September from 5pm-9pm at the Wicket, Cricket Square, will feature more than 100 people getting their heads shaved for a great cause. In addition, there will be a silent auction, balloon prize raffle, and food and drinks specials from The Brasserie.
Cayman residents Gaylene and Nigel Meeson conceived the idea to raise awareness about childhood cancer, after their daughter Hannah was diagnosed in 2012 with anaplastic medulloblastoma, a type of brain cancer.
“Hannah has a 5 percent chance of surviving the next five years and in the highly probable event of relapse there are no known successful medical trials for us to follow,” explained Gaylene Meeson. “All childhood cancers combined receive only 4 percent of US federal funding for cancer research so without vital research funded by organisations like St. Baldrick’s, Hannah and children like her will not survive.”
Other childhood cancer survivors in Cayman are involved in helping raise funds and awareness, including Skylar “Mimi” Ebanks, Annabelle Reading, Beau Shields, Tayden Grant and Charli Foster. As there is no treatment available for childhood cancer in the Cayman Islands, it is necessary for them all to travel frequently to the US for treatments and checkups.
Heroes for Hannah is a Hero Fund of St. Baldrick’s, the largest non-government funder of childhood cancer research in the US. Since its inception in 2004, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation has awarded more than US$100 million in childhood cancer research grants, with two named in Hannah’s honour, testament to the US$600,000 raised during head-shaving events held in 2013 and 2014.
“Local support has been overwhelming again this year,” said Meeson. “Over 100 supporters will shave on Friday, including a Fire Service team, MLAs Winston Connolly and Roy McTaggart, 6-year-old Olly Thorpe and 9-year-old Matteo Carbini, a host of big-hearted individuals and corporate teams, and the parents of local cancer survivors. We are humbled to see the Cayman community united in the fight against childhood cancer.”
For more information visit the Heroes for Hannah event website or email Heroes for Hannah
