Last year Joe raised more than $18,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation. Photos: Supplied.
A moment of peer pressure in a bar almost three decades ago has led to an unwavering commitment to helping people with blood cancer, with an Illawarra grandfather having fundraised and shaved his head for the Leukaemia Foundation for the 27th time.
Joe Alves has been part of the World’s Greatest Shave from the very beginning, after a few drinks with mates prompted him to give it a go.
“I was younger, had long hair and was maybe a little bit silly,” Joe said. “I never ever thought that 27 years later I would still be talking about it.”
That simple decision sparked something inside, and Joe found himself supporting the cause year after year.
“I’ve been to the children’s hospital and I’ve got a soft spot for those children,” Joe said. “I got to meet some of them and they still manage to give you that beautiful smile.
“It just breaks your heart.
“So I decided that I wanted to be part of it; I wanted to do whatever I could.”
Joe first shaved his head in 1998.
But despite participating each year, Joe was still determined to contribute more.
“Once I moved to Wollongong I became the president of the South Coast Portuguese Association and I thought to myself, I can do better than what I’ve been doing.”
Joe has raised almost $350,000 for the foundation, making him one of the highest individual fundraisers in the country.
Alongside the shave, he hosts a ticketed event each year, with auctions, raffles and either a dinner or lunch, including one this year on Sunday (23 March).
It has continued to grow, with local members from all levels of parliament, representatives from the Leukaemia Foundation and particularly Illawarra’s Portuguese community rallying behind Joe and his mission.
“Ninety-nine per cent of all the people that support me are Portuguese, majority from the Illawarra but there are some from Sydney as well,” he said.
“It’s an afternoon that people look forward to.”
More than 100 people including local MPs have attended the annual event.
He has a goal to add $10,000 to his ever-climbing total, with the money going directly to supporting Australians living with blood cancer around the country.
One Australian is diagnosed with a blood cancer such as leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma around every 27 minutes, and incidence of the disease continues to grow, with more than 275,000 Australians expected to be living with a blood cancer or blood disorder by 2035.
Around 16 people lose their life to blood cancer each day.
“This is something that has no cure yet,” Joe said.
Joe has faced personal health challenges, which includes needing to use a wheelchair which he can only operate with one arm, but his dedication to helping others continues and he has no intention of stopping.
“While I’m alive, and while I can talk and drive the wheelchair, and it’s not easy, I promise that I will be doing it.”
He hopes someone will take the torch when he is no longer able to host.
To donate visit Joe’s fundraising page.
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