Constable Natalie Walton and Constable Dale Billsoborough after shaving their heads for the World’s Greatest Shave, Queensland Police say.
The Stocklands in Caloundra was abuzz as officers shaved and dyed their hair for the World’s Greatest Shave.
Constable Natalie Walton and Constable Dale Bisllsoborough shaved their heads, while Senior Constable Amanda Murphy and Senior Constable Peta Pillar dyed their hair. Constable Spence Green and Constable Mitch Taylor attended the event, becoming inadvertent members of the team as they had their beards and hair colour sprayed in a surprise attack.
The team, named Donate for Donna, was established in honour of their work colleague and friend Senior Constable Donna Henwood who was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in October of 2016. This is Donna’s second fight with cancer, after beating bowel cancer five years ago.
Catherine Cash, one of Donna’s high school friends, came all the way from Western Australia to join the officers in shaving her head in honour of Senior Constable Henwood.
The team smashed their initial fundraising goal of $2,000, having raised $14,870 for the Leukaemia Foundation.
"We were honoured to have received such generosity from our community, and it goes to show how many people are affected by leukaemia," Senior Constable Murphy said.
However, this is not their first mission in honour of Senior Constable Henwood. When she was diagnosed in 2016, Senior Constable Amanda Murphy initiated a Red25 blood team with the Red Cross Blood Bank.
The World’s Greatest Shave took place next to the Red Cross Blood Truck, encouraging more people to register with the Donate for Donna blood donation team and current donors to continue giving blood.
So far there have been 144 donors on behalf of Donate for Donna, many of whom were first time blood donors.
"The support highlights the respect garnered by Senior Constable Henwood and reflects the compassion of the Sunshine Coast community," Senior Constable Murphy said.
