Police lose their locks for a good cause

Seven Moreton District police staff have sacrificed their locks to show their support for Leukaemia Support Queensland.

District Officer Superintendent John Hallam, Deception Bay officer in charge Senior-Sergeant Jason Higgs, Burpengary station’s Constable Jack Jude, Deception Bay station’s Chrissy Bates Senior-Constable Ben Weare from Petrie all lined up to have their heads shaved.

Dayu from Burpengary station and Jessica Wolleswinkel – the daughter of Senior-Constable Barbara Wolleswinkel from Redcliffe - cut off their pony tails and donated their hair to be used for wig making.

Leukaemia Support Queensland ambassador and Caboolture police station administration officer Lauren Bates organised the event as part of a fundraising campaign.

“I pledged to raise $10,000 over 10 months and this is one of my fundraising endeavours,” Lauren says.

“My mum (Chrissy from Deception Bay police station) was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in 2016.

“I came on board to support mum and became an ambassador this year.”

If Lauren reaches her fundraising goal, she’ll be rewarded with a six-day all-expenses-paid trip with reality TV show Adventure All Stars, which donates net profits to charity.

Chrissy says she’s grateful for the support of her colleagues throughout the district since her diagnosis.

“I had a stem cell transplant and I have been good since then, but it’s coming back – it’s incurable but treatable.”

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Superintendent Hallam says he was happy to sign up to have his head shaved to raise awareness about Leukaemia Support Queensland.

“I think its really important to raise awareness of what they do for people suffering and their families,” Supt Hallam says.

“And considering what I’ve got up top, I’m not giving up a lot.”

UniSC student and Muller College graduate Jessica Wolleswinkel braved the scissors to sacrifice her long locks.

“I’ve never really cut my hair and we’ve had some family members and friends affected,” Jessica says.

Jessica had about 40cm of her hair cut, which has been donated to Ella Wigmakers to be used for wigs for children who have lost their own hair during cancer treatment.

Dayu had seen a flyer promoting the hair event, but had not had a chance to sign up decided to join in the fun on the spur of the moment, also donating her hair for wigs.

|“My last haircut was about two years ago and I’ve always wanted to donate my hair,” she says.|

Constable Jude’s in his first year out of the academy and says with family members touched by cancer shaving his head seemed like the right thing to do.

“I’ve always considered it but I’ve never pulled the trigger.

“I wear a motorbike helmet to work, so I think it will be liberating,” he laughed.

Leukaemia Support Queensland president Jane McMillan says 53 people are diagnosed and 27 die from the disease every day.

She says the organisation, run entirely by volunteers, supports people, their friends and families through their diagnosis and treatment.

“We support those patients financially, we support them emotionally and practically,” Jane explains.

“There are 1500 people that we know of in the Moreton Bay region living with leukaemia or blood cancers.

“We’re passionate about building patient accommodation near the Caboolture Hospital – we’ve been given a block of land and now we just need to raise $2.5 million to build it.”