Why Alannah wants you to ‘Be Bold and Go Bald’

AN eight-year-old Dromara girl is urging everyone to ‘Be Bold and Go Bald’ to raise money for CLIC Sargent, the cancer charity for children and young people.

Organisers of the annual head shave, wax and dye event at Maginn’s in Castlewellan invited Alannah Donnelly and Leitrim woman Caroline Clarke to help launch this year’s fundraiser which will take place on Friday, May 6.

Alannah was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in September 2009 and she and her family were supported financially and practically by CLIC Sargent.

Alannah’s mum, Julie-Anne, said, “We decided to help raise funds for CLIC Sargent as we wanted to help families in the same situation. Alannah has loved helping out at events like this mass ‘head shave’ and she’s the life and soul of the party. She’s on maintenance treatment now and doing well.”

Meanwhile, local mum, Caroline Clarke, said, “This year I decided to get my hair shaved off as my mum sadly passed away in 2009 with cancer. Having children myself, I would be devastated to hear if any child was to be diagnosed with cancer.”

CLIC Sargent has partnered with The American based St Baldrick’s Foundation, which raises money for childhood cancer research, primarily through head-shaving events.

More local people are now being encouraged to hold their own ‘head shave’ events.

Roisin Rice of the Maginn’s organising committee said, “We were given the opportunity to visit the Cancer Centre at the Belfast City Hospital in November last year and meet Chris Hollins, one of the charity’s patrons. It was really inspiring to learn more about how the money raised at events like ours helps support young people with cancer across Northern Ireland.

This year the Maginn’s committee is inviting groups and individuals interested in taking part to attend registration evenings at the bar on Saturday (April 9 )from 8pm.

A free information pack is available to anyone who wants to organise their own head shave event and anyone who would like to find out more should contact Anne or Roisin at Central Hair Studio on 028 43723018, or Martin at Maginn’s, tel 028 43778235.

To find out more about setting up a sponsored head shave visit www.stbaldricks.org or contact CLIC Sargent’s local fundraising office on 02890 725780.