the drastic deed is done

April 17, Southern Hemisphere, South Coast, NSW, Oz.

IT was a packed country hall

and pretty well everyone brought an instrument -

from guitars and drums to spoons and gum-leaf whistles.

We even had a horn section.

And in the best of our mongrel musical inheritance

music was made.

AT some point

the dreads began to fall.

The duty of the first ceremonial cutting fell to the mystical Desire'e

then the youngest audience member....

until finally

our local

old-school barber

Anthony

took charge.

THE result:

1 night of music

100 musicians

1 sheet full of dreads

1 bald head

and $3,330

for cancer research.

CONGRATULATIOINS

and thanks...

we're all holding hands and climbing.

xh

every drop helps fill the bucket

G'day lovelies.

I'm putting my dreadlocks on the chopping block to raise some funds for cancer research. 

I have to admit I have woken up a few times recently wondering if we’ll get enough to make it all worth it - after all the dreads have been my companions for many years and they will be missed. 

And I’ve had lots of people say they would pay me not to cut them, but you know what – there’s something in the symbolism of the shave too. Whatever additional awareness we raise, whatever additional funds, it will be worth it.

However much or little you can contribute will be appreciated.

Annie Robinson - an old college friend - inspired me to do my bit. 

She has rewritten the medical record books, having bounced back from metastatic cancer again and again over the last 10 years - her husband and young son willing her on. Annie died just over a week ago.

'Versions of her story play out every day, all over the world.

I’ve arranged a bit of a Celtic-style music gathering to coincide with the drastic moment this Friday evening – a song for Annie, a celebration of community life, an ongoing cause, my birthday.

If you can get there - bring your family, friends, instruments, dancing shoes and refreshments.

April 17 is the Drastic date: a night of music dance, song and... scissors (Anglican Church Hall. Milton, NSW, Australia. 7.00pm) 

Donate to Drastic for a Cause at Bendigo Bank in Milton, drop your Drastic contribution in to the Times office in Ulladulla or purchase Drastic coupons from BROshop @ www.BROTHERmusic.com

Dancing dread - with a price on his head!

The Motivation

The Leukemia Foundation's World Greatest Shave got me thinking.
Then two weeks back a fundraising dinner for an old university friend fighting a decade-long battle with metastatic cancer pushed me to the edge.
Now I'd say I'm prepared to jump.
Over the last year I've become more aware than ever before of how great a scourge cancer really is - with an unbelievable number of people I've known succumbing to the ravenous appetite of this multi-faceted disease. People who have come into my life.
Annie Robinson - the friend from college - was featured last year on Andrew Denton's Enough Rope in an episode called 'Can I write the ending?'
Her metastatic cancer, which is when cancer cells separate from the primary tumour and spread to other parts of the body, has morphed into so many different cancers within her body that she's lost count.
A few weeks back a disk in her lower back collapsed as the result of radiation therapy, paralysing her from the waste down. Still she keeps going.
In fact Annie has kept going so long that she is now rewriting the record books when it comes to metastatic cancer.
There are as many worthy causes as there are stories and every so often we have to choose. So I've decided I'd like to support the Leukemia Foundation in its efforts and Annie in her challenge.
Here's the pledge:
I'm starting with the first $50. If we don't make the target the money still goes, but maybe not the dreadies. Should we get there there'll be an open invitation to everyone who contributes to come and watch the dedreading. Watch this space. Watch this pate.