Jacinda braves the shave
Taupō supportive care nurse Jacinda Mayo has seen first hand the extra stress Covid-19 has placed on cancer patients.
And as restrictions around public gatherings mean the Cancer Society has had to cancel some important fundraising events, Mayo has decided to Brave the Shave.
It’s a fundraising activity people can get involved in from the safety of their ‘bubble’, and the timing couldn’t be better with hair salons still in lockdown.
Mayo offers support to people living with cancer, and their families, in the Taupō/Turangi region.
During level 4 she’s also been making the journey to provide staffing support at the Cancer Society’s Lions Lodge in Hamilton – a facility offering free accommodation to people who need to travel to Waikato Hospital for cancer treatment.
Mayo, along with another of the society’s supportive care nurses, has set an ambitious fundraising goal of $5000 for losing her locks and has already raised well over half that amount in the first week of fundraising.
The motivation for their involvement is simple: the clients they meet every day.
"As nurses, on a daily basis we are in awe of the bravery and courage that our clients, their families and those around them show. Right from the moment a client receives what may be a life-changing or life-limiting diagnosis, they and their significant others show us how brave and courageous they are.
“Somehow, and from somewhere, they find the courage to take the next step in their journey to tackle whatever is thrown at them next."
Mayo said she’s been thinking of raising funds with a head shave for a little while but thinks now's the right time to find her "little bit of brave".
"Our job is a privilege. To be allowed into someone's life and to support them through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows is something we do not take for granted. It is an honour to walk this journey with them."
Read more information about Jacinda’s progress on the brave the shave everyday hero website.
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