Claudia Moore does not consider herself a philanthropist of any great note, but she recently shaved her head for the third time in the name of charity.
Local charity The Kyabram Gift has raised $54,000 in the last two years, culminating in Claudia, and another of the Gift’s key players, Jackie Humphrey, shaving their heads.
The event was meant to be held at the Gift Ball last month, but due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, it became too much of a risk to host the event.
Instead the couple shaved their heads in front of family and friends in a private setting.
“It wasn’t how we were hoping to do it, with the ball being cancelled we were left with the tough decision to hold a small event for our family and friends to come and witness the shave” Claudia said.
“In total, we’ve raised over $54,000 between the two of us which shows how incredibly giving our community and beyond are to such a needed charity.”
Jackie discussed the motivations behind working tirelessly to fundraise for the Gift to help people she loves and those people that they have lost to cancer.
“First of all I want my children to see the gift of giving. To see that not everything we do is about ourselves. And to learn that sometimes rewards can come from within. It should be plain and simple, you give when your can, not because you have to, or because it’s the right thing to do but because you want to.”
Claudia’s three head shaves have been once for Shave for a Cure and twice for the Gift. She discussed her father’s charity work and loss of family members as motivation to participate in the shave.
“My dad was part of the Murray to Moyne cycling group that would raise money for cancer and as a kid I asked to shave my head like Dad, not fully comprehending what it was all about. My cousin died of leukaemia aged two when I was aged seven and I lost three grandparents to cancer, and in particular watched my grandmother go through multiple battles.”
Claudia and Jackie have had many ideas for possible future fundraisers to organise, however the COVID-19 pandemic had got in the way of most of their plans.
They discussed the disappointment of not being able to have the shave at the ball as part of tradition, however saw the positives in having an intimate family event instead.
“The decision to shave at a private event with family and friends was a tough one. But the day turned out absolutely perfectly. It was so heart-warming to be surrounded and supported by those we loved and the biggest thing was that all the kids got to be part of it” Jackie said.
Money raised by the Gift goes back into supporting people who are suffering from cancer in the town of Kyabram and its surrounds. Jackie and Claudia urge people to donate to the cause and for those going through cancer to apply for assistance.
If you would like to donate to the cause and contribute to the total head to The Kyabram Gift’s Facebook page for details.