Albany survivor ready to shave it off in support of Leukaemia Foundation less than a year on from treatment

Less than a year on from starting to regain his hair after treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia, Steve Cowley will be having it shaved off as part of the World’s Greatest Shave at the weekend. Mr Cowley spent 101 days in hospital last year, during which he required five rounds of chemotherapy, emergency colon surgery and a stem cell transplant. He credits the support he was given by the staff at Fiona Stanley Hospital, the Cancer Council and the Leukaemia Foundation as pivotal to his survival after a sudden diagnosis. During his treatment, he and wife Anne Sparrow were put up for 300 days in a Perth apartment by the foundation. On Saturday, he will do what he can to pay back that support by collecting donations while having his hair and beard shaved off. “The Leukaemia Foundation put us up in that apartment and as soon as I had the keys and went in I just broke down crying,” Mr Cowley said. “It was such a relief during a difficult time to have your own refuge where you can go if you’re having a s..t day.” Before his cancer treatment, Mr Cowley had mostly kept his face clean-shaven and his hair would be regularly maintained to a number two. When Kumari Henry of Ron’s Barber Shop starts the clippers on Saturday, it will be the first time Mr Cowley’s hair has been cut since it started to regrow in October. He said he was looking forward to getting rid of his beard and his “chemo curls”. “My nephew in the UK has already asked the question ‘how much to shave the eyebrows off?’ and I said to him ‘if anyone offers $1000 I’ll do it’,” he said. A goal of $10,000 has been set for the event, but plans are already being made to raise even more. Before Saturday’s shave, Ms Sparrow plans to dress Mr Cowley up in a Santa costume and take him around to iconic Albany locations to take photos that will be used as Christmas cards. Proceeds from selling the cards later this year will also be donated to the foundation. The shave will take place from 1.30pm in the Albany Town Square as part of the Albany Harmony Festival. To support Mr Cowley’s fundraising efforts, search his name on the World’s Greatest Shave website.