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From the hair to the heart

by Kiri Williams

Wagga girl Kiri Williams openly shares how a  courageous plan to cut her trademark dreadlocks to help raise funds for cancer treatment has now taken on a deeper, more personal signficance.

I'm not really sure what to write, I am no great story teller or scholar, and there is no tragic tale of a family member who's suffering from Leukaemia, or a past friend. This is just a story of what is.

I have had my dreadlocks for over 3 years now and they are as much a part of me as my left arm. Friends and those close, call me and know me as "hippy", I feel that to a degree, my hair defines who I am, or just a part of me anyway. It's not just hair, to me they hold memories of laughter and tears, the snow and the summer, my friends, the mountains, my home; what is real.

To be honest I'm not to sure why I decided this should be done, I just felt it should be. I knew it should be.  I miss brushing my hair and the dreadlocks take a lot of maintenance to keep tidy and "un-feral". I have always wanted to shave my head to see what it feels like and it is the only way to get my hair back to normal. Dreadlocks don't just grow out on their own you see. So I thought if i'm going to do this, why not raise some money along the way, then maybe, if there was going to be any regret it would become pride instead.

However, halfway through organising this small event which keeps growing day by day, my mother came to me and told me she had breast cancer.  It was a real shock, one I was certainly not prepared for.  Everything suddenly became a whole lot more real.

I felt all feelings, I was confused because she doesn't smoke or drink at all and there's no history of it in our family, I was sad, I never thought it would be my mum, and I was scared.  I think I even felt a bit of guilt that I was raising money for a whole different fund. I should have been shaving off my chest instead of my hair; somehow.

But you know what, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter what fund or charity group I do this for, our families feel the same hurt and worry. All our lives are equally interrupted. We all need as much help as we can get. That is why I'm writing this. To ask for help. Please help me spread the word and make this event a success.

What was going to be a small home Bbq, has quickly grown into large public fundraiser. The event will be held at The Tourist Hotel on sat 26th July, from 2pm onwards where i am hoping to have a local butcher donate for a sausage sizzle. Doug Hogan from Prime has said they will attend the event on the day and I have had some welcome donations from local businesses such as Kidsons Cycle, The Premium Coffee Roasters, Nemo's Fish and Chips, and McDonalds, and also from many individuals. The support I have received has been amazing.

Any one and everyone is welcome. All donations over $2 are tax deductible and can be made either on the day, or see Kiri at Kidsons Cycles or on line at:

http://www.worldsgreatestshave.com/profile.php?id=463599

Thanks so much for your time.

Sincerely

Kiri Williams

0447 277 740

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