You know, when I was giving it a bit of chemo drugs last year, I repeatedly talked about not wanting to loose my hair. At that stage my hair was quite long down my back and it was part security blanket, part personality and part ….. what I defined myself as. Nice hair, nice smile and that is about where the nice ended. I NEEDED the hair dammit. It was a really big deal to me.

Thankfully there are many people less selfish, less insecure and a fuckload braver than I am, who don’t need a security blanket made from hair, and whose smile is devine but that is not where their nice ends. Such a person is my friend Jax. We have been friends for over a decade and we have walked a number of roads together.

I suspect the hardest one we are yet to walk will come soon,…. and we have done death of friends, divorce, re-marriages (we keep doing it till we get it right, we optimistic that way) ADHD kids – oh a number of fun and horrible things>  Jax’s mom was diagnosed a few short weeks ago with brain cancer and no they can’t remove it, and no, she is not going to get better and yes, Jax has stepped up and no, her family is not coping. I have known Jax’s mom as long as I have known Jax and the apple didn’t fall far from that tree! 🙂

On Saturday, 3 March 2012, my Jaxie will be shaving her head hoping to raise awareness as well as raise R5 000 for cancer.  Jax shaved her head once before when her then father in law, Albert died… and I took the pictures. I know raising R5000 can be done, little by little, so being 29 February 2012, I ask that instead of asking some guy to marry you, support Jax in her bravery to shave her head – AND MAKE A DONATION. It is really easy, you can give as little or as much as you like, but please GIVE. I need Jax to feel we walking with her. She is not alone and I for one will continue holding her hand,  pushing my way into our giant slipper. 🙂 I love you Jax and I regret I won’t be there to hold your hand or take your picture on Saturday. Imagine me crying again, I know how much you hate that. 🙂

Jaxie Dares To Go Bald For Cancer 

• By: Jacquie Cloete
• Short URL: http://www.backabuddy.co.za/jaxies-shavathon-for-cancer

Personal message

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page! On 3 March 2012, I will be shaving my hair off in an effort to raise funds for children and their families who are affected by cancer.  Cancer has touched my life personally; the most recent being with my Mom’s diagnosis with Brain Cancer.  In an effort to help those families, I have chosen Rainbows and Smiles as my charity of choice.

Rainbows and Smiles are a small NPO that was started in 2008 by Bonita Suckling after her own son, Jed Brady Thomas, was diagnosed with brain cancer at age 3. She saw what families go through while in treatment and realised there was a need that she could fulfil since she had lived the journey herself.

Sadly Jed passed away on 11 July 2011 after a brave 3 year fight (he was initially given 6 months). Rainbows and Smiles assist families that are fighting childhood (0 to 16 years) cancer with emotional and financial support. They will pay medical bills, buy food vouchers, pay for petrol money, etc as when cancer strikes usually the mother cannot work any longer as the child requires 24/7 care. They also spoil kids while in treatment and support mom’s after a child has passed. Rainbows and Smiles also have a programme where we spoil the ‘forgotten’ siblings as when a child has cancer understandably the parents attention is usually focused on the sick child.

The organisation is run by 6 ladies from their homes – only Bonni does this fulltime, the rest of themhave fulltime jobs so they squeeze in what they can at night and on the weekends!

Rainbows and Smiles operates in Johannesburg, Gauteng
Non-Profit Organisation Number: 085-832
Contact person: Bonita Suckling
Phone: 076 070 3061
Fax: 086 242 3660
Email: bonita.suckling@gmail.com    Website: www.rainbowsandsmiles.org.za

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I wish you enough, (and that YOU may never have to contemplate losing YOUR hair)

Wenchy