15 years ago Kellie Stanford alongside workmate Christy Attwell, underwent the big snip for a good cause. Now they’re doing it all again – for a very special reason. Photo: Kellie Stanford.
Workmates Kellie Stanford and Christy Attwell joined forces 15 years ago to battle blood cancer – now they’re back in action.
The dynamic duo will be taking part in the World’s Greatest Shave 2026 to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation’s awareness, support and research work.
Most importantly, Kellie hopes that by making the big chop they will inspire others to do the same, and help kids who have lost their hair to cancer treatment feel less alone.
Their first shave in 2011 was done with a “why not” attitude, but this years’ effort is inspired by someone closer to home.
“The first time no one we knew personally was affected,” Kellie said.
“We just thought if we could help out in any way that’s what we wanted to do.
“This year we are doing it for Kayla, who goes to the same school as my son.”
Kayla has been in hospital since November 2025, after her third diagnosis of leukaemia.
An estimated 1 in 12 Australians, or eight per cent of the population are at risk of being diagnosed with blood cancer in their lifetime.
The Leukaemia Foundation said blood cancers combined was the second highest cause of cancer-related deaths in the country.
It is the number one cancer diagnosed in children and is responsible for about one in every two cancers diagnosed in Australians under the age of 19.
Unlike many other cancers, there are no screening programs available for blood cancer, and there is no way to prevent blood cancer through lifestyle change.
Of those diagnosed, one in three Australians will not survive five years after their diagnosis.
It’s these stats that make Kayla’s resilience at just 16 years of age so remarkable.
Kellie said she and Christy wanted to make sure Kayla knew her community was behind her.
“She’s a very sweet girl, softly spoken but very resilient and strong,” Kellie said.
“It pulled on my heartstrings to know my son went to his formal and Kayla didn’t get that experience.
“She’s beaten this twice before, and I wanted to show her she’s doing amazingly and with or without hair, she’s beautiful.”
Kellie said the large proportion of young people battling leukaemia also motivated her fundraising efforts.
She hoped that if more women got the shears out it would help make kids who had lost their hair feel less self-conscious.
“To look different to your peers at a vulnerable age is really hard,” she said.
“If we can make it more socially acceptable I think it will help these kids not feel so alone.
“I remember waking up the next morning the first time and thinking what have I done? But that was short-lived.
“It was great to know we had made a difference, the grow out wasn’t too bad and the next think I knew I had hair back again.”
If you’d like to support Kellie and Christy’s shave head to Moe and Co at noon on Friday 27 March, or head to their fundraising page to make a donation.
Their initial goal was $2500, but since smashing through that over the weekend they’re hoping to raise as much as they can to support Kayla and kids like her.
“I know cost of living isn’t great at the moment, but I hope people can think about if they were in this position as a parent and dig deep,” Kellie said.
