It’s words that no-one wants to hear. “You have blood cancer”.
This year alone, over 12,000 people will hear this devastating news. They will then require immediate, intensive and expensive treatment, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapies and stem cell transplantation.
This is where people like Jaeger O’Meara’s mother, Non, step in to fight blood cancer. They sign up to the Leukaemia Foundation's World’s Greatest Shave and raise money for those affected by this cancer.
“When mum told me a while back that she was going to shave her head as part of the World’s Greatest Shave, I was shocked,” O’Meara said.
“But then when she started to explain to me that she had always wanted to do it and felt that this year was her time, I began to understand.
“I’m so proud of her, as any son would be and although it’ll be weird seeing her with no hair, at least she can grow it back. Others don’t have that choice.”
Generally people begin their journey to shaving their head because blood cancer has hit close to home, however this is not the case for Non O’Meara.
“I have always wanted to do it (shave my head) and my main reason for doing this is I have four healthy kids and I think I’m pretty lucky,” Mrs O’Meara said.
“The other reasons are that my dad did have oesophagus cancer over 10 years ago and he’s still with us, which is pretty amazing, and also I just felt right it was the right time for me to do it.”
Non will be shaving her head at Southerlys Harbour View Bar & Restaurant in Port Dension, Western Australia, this Sunday at 3pm (local time), which is also her birthday.
"I'm colouring my hair on Friday and then shaving it on Sunday, which is also my birthday. Everyone is welcome to come and watch and people can still donate until Sunday.”
“It's such a great cause and the more people can raise the bigger the difference we can make in the lives of those affected."
The Gold Coast SUNS, alongside Fremantle and West Coast Eagles, have also got behind Non with all three donating signed guernseys to help this great cause.
