MORE than $900 was raised by Daniel Butler for the Leukaemia Foundation through the World’s Greatest Shave.
His reason for taking part in the fundraising campaign for the charity dedicated to supporting people living with blood cancer by providing information, treatment and care was very personal.
Daniel’s brother, Jared, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia and passed away on November 9, 2005.
Their mother Michele said that Jared passed away after an 11 month battle with Leukaemia at the age of five.
“Jared was such a fun loving little boy, who lit up every room with his positive and fun personality, everyone who met Jared just fell in love with him, he was truly one of a kind, who meant so much to all of us,” she said.
“He is still remembered at the Mater hospital where he was receiving treatment every day.
“He was a larrikin; smart and quick witted and he would greet all of the families who were also at the hospital.
“Jared was just an amazing little boy and a real inspiration, he loved playing games and his play station, he would have been the class clown and no matter how sick he was, he was always smiling.
“We remember his big smile and his even bigger love of life.””
This year was not the first time Daniel had taken part in the World’s Greatest Shave.
“I am so proud of Daniel for doing such a wonderful thing,” Michele said.
“When Jared was sick, the trips to the hospital consisted of travelling to the Mater up to three times a day and the fuel costs alone were astronomical.
“My daily routine was challenging and I would always try to be there for all of my children, from school and day care drop offs and pickups, to cooking dinner and then trying to be at the hospital for Jared.
“When I look back now, I wonder how I did it, but you just do, even when I was surviving sometimes on only one hour a night of sleep, you do what is necessary to be there for the ones you love.
“Through it all the Leukaemia Foundation always supported our family where they could, from assisting with accommodation to helping with some of the costs.
“They were truly amazing.
“This is why being able to give back to the Leukaemia Foundation is so important, and knowing that other families will benefit from the monies raised means the world.”
Throughout the time that Jared was in hospital, Michele met many families who were also faced with the reality of losing their loved one. She attended nine funerals in less than a year.
“Cancer does not define age, from babies to teenagers, each family faces tremendous hurt and just being there for everyone as a whole sometimes makes all the difference,” she said.
“I have seen many families fall apart as a result of going through such a traumatic experience. In fact, my husband and I were the only couple that I knew of at the time to stay together after losing our beautiful son Jared.”
