Team Alex rally for World's Greatest Shave
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Amazing community spirit was seen all around Geraldton on Saturday with many shaving or colouring their hair for World’s Greatest Shave.
The Foreshore was full of people shaving and colouring their heads for Team Alex in memory of 11-year-old Alex Ashworth Preece who passed away 2 years ago.
Alex’s sister Georgina was a driving force behind the cause and when Everything Geraldton met with her over a month ago, she was hoping to raise $1,000 in memory of her brother.
Before the shave on Saturday, Team Alex had already bypassed $10,000 an were proudly on their way to $15,000
Georgina as well as Alex’s parents all shaved their head on the day.
There were many people part of Team Alex including Alex’s school friends and Ian Blayney MLA.
His school friends spoke about Alex before the shave and how much they missed him.
The introduction on the day was:
"Today we meet for a very special reason to honour Alex Ashworth-Preece, who died at the age of 11, after bravely fighting with the disease acute myeloid leukaemia. He was an intelligent, spirited, cheeky boy who was sadly diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of only nine years old. He fought the disease for two years.
"His family acknowledge the kind support that was given to him from the Geraldton community as he fought his disease.
"Today, we have also come together to honour ALL those who have fought blood cancer or blood diseases, those or are still fighting disease, those who have just been recently diagnosed and those who will have to fight this disease in the future. Today in Australia there will be about 31 people who are diagnosed with leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma.
"We are here to raise important money for the Leukaemia Foundation. Together we can make a difference to blood cancer and blood disorders and put the word cancer in the past."
Tears of joy ran down Georgina’s face as her shave began and she said she was absolutely overwhelmed by the amount of support Team Alex had received from the Geraldton community.
“I had a goal when I first started fundraising but I just kept upping it and upping it,” Georgina said.
"We really appreciate everyone who kindly and generously donated to this worthwhile cause."
Alex’s Mum Renette also said that Alex would have been so proud.
“Alex would have been very honoured to know his friends would make such a big sacrifice for him and to help others in need.”
Joe from local business Cut Throat Joe’s donated his time to do the shave and there were several businesses that donated items to the silent auction.
People have until April 11th to donate to Team Alex and the Leukemia Foundation. You can click here to donate.
