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A gathering of Jennies at Highfield Reserve last month helped to raise funds for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer NZ.
Snells Beach’s Jenny Bartlett put out a call online to anyone named “Jenny” to join her “shave for a cure” fundraiser.
A “jenny” is also a term for a female donkey, making the donkey park at Highfield Garden Reserve a fitting outside location for the group shave.
Jennie Rountree agreed to join, and cut off her pony tails for the first time, while other women named Jenny came to support. Jennie also brought her clients from Adults in Motion (AIM) to witness the event so that they wouldn’t be shocked to see her without hair.
Jenny and Jennie’s team fundraiser, named “Jennies Don’t Give a Donkey’s Ass” has raised $3500 so far.
It is Jenny Bartlett’s 10th time shaving for a fundraiser. This time, in order to meet Covid-19 restrictions, which do not allow haircuts from professionals, she had her partner Dave do the honours.
Dave says his only previous experience is shaving the dog.
Leukaemia & Blood Cancer NZ chief executive, and Snells Beach resident, Peter Ferguson says team shaving events have been important for fundraising amid the pandemic.
Last month was blood cancer awareness month. Peter says people have been hesitant to visit the doctor during lockdown, but it is important that people with symptoms get checked out.
He says symptoms of blood cancer include lethargy and a sore throat, which makes it tricky to diagnose, but most GPs will order a blood test if an adult presents symptoms.
Peter says that blood cancer is most prevalent among older people, but New Zealand has the highest number of children with blood cancer per capita in the world, and no one knows why.
“Fortunately, we also have a great record of treatment, with 85 per cent of kids going into remission, thanks to good access to medicine,” he says.
Leukaemia & Blood Cancer NZ supports 5000 patients a year with food and transport to treatment. Peter says that requests for help are up 40 per cent due to the Covid pandemic.
Donations to Jenny and Jennie’s shave fundraiser are welcomed at https://shaveforacure.co.nz/t/jenniesdontgiveadonkeysass
