Annual Big Shave on Friday

(CMR) The Hannah’s Heroes Big Shave childhood cancers fundraising event is taking place on Friday, 30 September, at The Wicket in Cricket Square. Since 2013 Cayman has generated over US$2.5 Million and resulted in the naming of 14 separate research grants at the most prestigious institutes across the United States.

Cayman's contribution has been so significant that it has made it into the Foundation’s top ten fundraisers every year since 2014 amidst hundreds of events around the world and is the Foundation’s most successful overseas fundraiser.

The St Baldrick’s Foundation is the largest non-government funder of childhood cancer research in the US.

“The efforts of the Cayman community have been entirely life-changing for children and families facing a cancer diagnosis everywhere.   Just 50 years ago all kids diagnosed with cancer died. Because of research today about 90% of kids with the most common types of cancer will live but for many other types, progress has been limited and for some there is still little hope for a cure.  Currently, all childhood cancers combined receive only 4% of US federal funding for cancer research so without vital research funded by organizations like St Baldrick’s, Hannah and children like her simply will not survive. All children deserve to grow up and realise their full potential and it’s something that most families take for granted.”

 Mrs. Gaylene Meeson, founder of Hannah’s Heroes

When the crowd gathers in Cricket Square this Friday they will celebrate and honour Cayman’s childhood cancer heroes Tayden Grant (14) Hannah Meeson (15), Charli Foster (14), Allie Capasso (14), Beau Shields(11), Ava Paige Rico (12), Annabelle Reading (11), Saylor Sperandeo (11) and Mimi Ebank (9), Martisah Sinclaire (9) and Jaliyah and Jaliyah Gauntlet (6) and will remember angels, Dimitrie Connor (forever 15), Caitlin Beverley (forever 8) and Albert Ebanks (forever 16) and Kai Parham who passed away on Sunday 25^th September , age 22,  after a five year battle with an incurable brain tumor.

Kai’s mother, Fiona MacFarlane will be joined by Kai’s family and friends on Friday evening, who will take to the Big Shave stage in celebration of his life with a renewed determination to fund research and prevent more young lives being lost to childhood cancer.

Amongst those already signed up to brave the shave is seven-time shavee Eugene Nolan of the Tortuga Rum Cutters who has raised over $93,000 for Hannah’s Heroes.

Among those shaving Friday are teams from Maples & Balder, Dart, KPMG, the Cayman Islands Fire Service’s “FireBalds”, Cayman International School and Waystone. Cayman Prep and High School are also hosting a satellite shave event for students and staff and many schools and businesses are hosting dress-down days, bake sales and collections to get behind the cause.

Friday’s event will take place at The Wicket in Cricket Square from 5pm and will feature a silent auction, a balloon prize raffle for adults and children as well as food and drinks specials from the Brasserie and of course The Big Shave.