An incredible nine people – including a six year old boy – “braved the shave” at a Family Fun Day at the Royal Legion in Hanney, Oxfordshire, last month.
Jaxon Cox, aged six, was the youngest volunteer to have his hair chopped off at the event, which also featured face-painting, bouncy castles and a classic steam engine.
The Fun Day and ‘brave the shave’ was organized by Siobhan Broadhurst, 32, in support of husband Charlie, who was diagnosed with an astrocytoma brain tumour in March last year. Otherwise fit and healthy, Charlie’s first sign that something was wrong was a seizure a few weeks earlier that came seemingly out of the blue.
Siobhan, who runs a cleaning company and is Mum to Rupert (5) and Oscar (2) explains how Charlie’s diagnosis made her determined to raise funds:
“Charlie has had one awake biopsy operation and one awake full craniotomy surgery to remove part of the tumour. He’s recently finished a 6 week radiotherapy course and started on chemotherapy. He now has a year of chemotherapy ahead of him.
Siobhan Broadhurst
“When he was diagnosed, I wanted to do something to help other families going through what we are going through. I can’t just sit here and do nothing. Raising funds is something positive I can do to help.
“The Charity sent a goody bag for each of our boys to help them understand what is happening, which is a really valuable service. Both boys love their Brain Tumour Charity T shirts!
Friends and family rallied round to offer support on the day. A total of £11,836 has now been raised, more than doubling the family’s original target of £5,000. For Siobhan and Charlie, raising awareness of brain tumours is just as important as raising vital funds:
“If us raising awareness and funds means other families might be able to find and recognise the signs of tumours earlier then that would be amazing. Or if it means the funds raised help fund further research so that in the future we don’t have to hear the words “inoperable” or “incurable” which are words we’ve been faced with – how amazing would that be.
Siobhan Broadhurst
And if somewhere down the line this helps Charlie a little bit then that’s a huge bonus! “-
Siobhan’s Tips for Fundraisers
“Publicity! We spent a lot of time making people aware of “our” story and the reasons why we wanted to raise awareness and money. I think that really helped. We were lucky enough to have a good connection with local media such as radio and newspapers too which got out story out even wider.
“I think my advice would be to not be afraid to ask and to tell your story. We hadn’t really ever spoken to anyone about what’s happening in our lives until I decided to do the fundraiser and actually it’s amazing how many people are willing to listen and help.
“Be bold and ask to advertise your event and story in social media networks and radio etc.”
Get involved!
Inspired? There are lots of ways to get involved. Find out more about how you can organise your own charity fundraiser, and raise funds to move us all further, faster towards a cure.