Hair today, gone on Friday

Hair today, gone on Friday

The University of Queensland will become the scene of a hair-raising activity on Friday, April 16.

Staff members will have hair removed for a worthy cause - the Leukaemia Foundation's "World's Greatest Shave for a Cure".

The annual event raises funds for research into a cure for leukaemia - cancer of the bone marrow. Leukaemia affects around 700 Queenslanders at any one time with nearly 300 new cases diagnosed each year. Nationally, in the next five years, it has been estimated 9000 new leukaemia cases will be diagnosed.

It is the most common form of childhood cancer.

Social Sciences and Humanities senior librarian and co-ordinator of the University's event, Bill Beach, said staff participation in the event had been prompted by the fact that almost everyone's family was at some time touched by cancer.

University computer programmer Alain "Lino" Thonon said of the University participants in the event, to be held in the eastern cloister of the Great Court from 1pm, most would have their heads shaved while one was having her legs waxed.

Union Hairdresser staff would be on hand to ensure a professional finish to each shave, he said.

Mr Thonon said this year's event throughout Queensland could end up in Guinness Book of World Records for the greatest number of heads shaved in 24 hours.

To do this, 4000 heads will have to be shaved from noon Friday, April 16, to noon, Saturday, April 17.

For more information, contact Mr Beach or Mr Thonon (telephone 07 3365 3060) or the Leukaemia Foundation's Kym MacDonald (telephone 07 3250 0500 or 1800 804 444).