Lose your locks in support of the World's Greatest Shave

ACT Chief Minister and Minister for Health Katy Gallagher, today helped officially launch the Leukaemia Foundation's World's Greatest Shave event, which aims to increase awareness of blood cancers and to raise funds for research.

"I am really pleased to be a part of today's launch of the 2012 World's Greatest Shave fundraising event and to be able to kick things off personally by colouring the hair of a volunteer participant," the Chief Minister said.

"Blood cancer is Australia's second biggest cancer killer after lung cancer. More than 11,500 Australians will develop leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma this year alone -one person every 46 minutes.

The World's Greatest Shave will be held over three days from Thursday 15 March to Saturday 17 March 2012 and will see participants either have their hair shaved or coloured to help raise funds for research and increase awareness of blood cancers including leukaemias, lymphomas and myelomas.

The ACT 2012 target is $350,000 and so far $129,000 has already been committed.

Right now, more than 40,000 Australian families are facing the physical, emotional, and financial challenges of blood cancer.

"The ACT Government is committed to providing services and supporting people with cancer. In the 2011/12 budget, we provided an additional $4 million over four years to help meet continuing and rising demand for cancer care," the Chief Minister said.

"In addition, cancer patients in the ACT and surrounding regions of New South Wales will benefit from the recently commenced construction of a new $44.6 million Capital Region Cancer Centre with the Gillard Government contributing $27.9 million and the ACT Government contributing $16.7 million.

"I would encourage all Canberrans to get involved in this years World's Greatest Shave, and if like me you are not game enough to lose your locks, then support someone who is," the Chief Minister concluded.