A group of iSelect Gold Coast Titans players have done their bit to raise funds and awareness for the Leukaemia Foundation by shaving and colouring their hair at the club’s World’s Greatest Shave event at Gold’s Barber Salon, Broadbeach.
The topic has a special significance for Titans utility Luke O’Dwyer, who lost his brother Ryan to leukaemia in 1998. In memory of Ryan’s love of rugby league, the annual O’Dwyer Shield is played between St Joseph’s Primary School, Tweed Heads and St James Primary School, Banora Point.
Now in its eighth year, the O’Dwyer Shield has changed its format from a standalone event at the end of the year to be played in front of thousands of people at the Titans’ opening home game of the year against the Canberra Raiders at Skilled Park on Sunday. The teams will take to the field at half time of the NYC and NRL matches to play in honour of Ryan.
In a bid to raise money and awareness for the cause, O’Dwyer, 13 year old Tonita Kempnich and hooker Matt Srama today shaved their heads while a host of teammates including Greg Bird and David Mead coloured their hair.
Leukaemia Foundation volunteers will be on the stadium precinct at Sunday’s home game at Skilled Park receiving donations. Fans are able to make a donation to have their hair coloured or shaved by the team from Notorious Cuts Southport. Corporate members will also be able to contribute by placing a donation into a marked envelope on their tables.
In addition to this, fans will also be able to donate at the game by downloading a free Team Tap phone application. Once the free app has been downloaded, fans are encouraged to tap their phones with other people at the stadium using the app to raise money. Each tap is worth 20 cents and at the end of the game, fans are able to share how much they raised via Facebook and Twitter.
The Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland is a not for profit organisation, receiving no ongoing funding from the government. The Leukaemia Foundation relies entirely on the generosity of the local community, volunteers and businesses to continue its all important work assisting those with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related blood disorders.
Fans can donate money towards the cause via the club’s World’s Greatest Shave page located here: http://my.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/gctitans.
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