Shave Our Hair, Show We Care - Ally determined to make €60k target

Twelve people will have their heads shaved in the Village Barn, Tyrrellspass on November 13 next in a fundraiser organised by determined Mullingar woman, Ally Byrne. The event is part of an ongoing campaign by Ally, who has already raised almost €25,000 for cancer research and support services, and aims to hit €60,000.

Ally’s husband, Michael was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, and it is her aim to raise and spread awareness about the condition and the support services available to families living with cancer.

The charities for which she has been raising funds are Breakthrough Cancer Research, Clare’s Wish Foundation, Multiple Myeloma Ireland, Childhood Cancer Foundation Ireland, Irish Cancer Society and LauraLynn – Ireland’s Children’s Hospice.

“Since June 2021, I have been raising awareness for each of these charities, showcasing various research projects and recruiting head shave participants from around Ireland,” Ally told the Westmeath Examiner.

She chose November 13, International Day of Kindness, for her Shave Our Hair, Show We Care night. MC for the event is Noel O’Farrell and music will be by the Tonic House Collective.

There will be raffle and spot prizes and plenty of delicious finger food. Bus transport will be available from Mullingar and back and 100pc of ticket sales will go to the charities as the venue has been sponsored by The Barn and transport has been sponsored by John Healy Coach Hire Limited.

Doors open at 7pm for what promises to be a great night out for several great causes, see eventbrite.com. for tickets.

Anyone who is unable to attend on the night can support the event online, details on Ally’s Instagram page @allysfundraiserforcancer or at GoFundMe. If you can’t donate, please share the page, Ally asks.

“Every hour in Ireland someone dies from cancer. Every three minutes of a working week someone hears they have cancer,” Ally said. But she is confident that “Ireland is at the top of our game” when it comes to cancer research. Her campaign is aimed at highlighting that research and the other supports for cancer patients and their families.

“With public support, together we could raise money to help many charities working with people fighting to survive cancer, charities that are fighting to cure cancer and charities supporting families living and dealing with cancer in their daily lives,” Ally said.

She added that there are 300,000 cancer survivors living in Ireland and awareness, fundraising and research can help find more treatments and cures and make more survivors.

Ally and Michael live in Glascorn, Ballinea with their three daughters, Lucy aged 13, Anna 12, and nine-year-old Jane, all of whom attend St Kenny NS, Ballinea.

“Michael’s cancer diagnosis coming directly on the back of Covid, has awoken us even more than Covid had. Cancer is so many things, both positive and negative, we focus on the positive. No one’s tomorrow is promised, everyone is aware of that. Cancer has given us the clarity to be even more acutely aware of life’s ticking clock,” Ally said.

“Michael’s cancer is rare, it’s incurable but it’s treatable. Michael, like anyone with an incurable cancer, will never get to say ‘I’m cured’ or ‘I’m cancer-free’ so we gain small comfort in the fact that it’s treatable. Will treatment give Michael 20 more years? We hope so and we hope in the next few years, a cure is found because I greedily want every single minute possible that I can get with Michael by my side.”

The fundraiser started as a solo head shave in an effort to raise €10,000 and due to the level of support, it has evolved.

“This event, on World Kindness Day, will be a coming together to celebrate the causes, fundraisers and participants involved in my fundraising campaign. The night promises to be great fun – the lads of Tonic House Collective and MC Noel O’Farrell will be on hand to entertain and Kevin Clancy, founder of Clare’s Wish, will be attending on the night,” Ally said.

“My heartfelt thanks to every single person that has shared my fundraiser, talked about it, donated to it and volunteered to take part in the headshave event, your generosity and support is very much appreciated.”

“Together we can make a difference. Together we can make more survivors. I am asking people to follow the campaign through my Instagram page, share and like. If people can donate that is fantastic, if not, tell anyone you know!”