Loma's story
Loma (left) and her daughter Cathy
When Loma Graydon's husband, Eric, was diagnosed with leukaemia, Loma saw the urgent need for patients and families living with this disease to have practical support and care. So she took on a personal challenge to raise funds for the Leukaemia Foundation.
Loma and her daughter held a Shave for a Cure fundraising event - throwing out the challenge to their home town Lismore, NSW to break the record for the most heads shaved in a 24 hour period. The event was an unprecedented success with more than 200 heads shaved in just under 3 hours...setting a new record and raising almost $80,000.
Sadly, Eric passed away in 1999 after 15 months of treatment and a bone marrow transplant. However he and his family had inspired what is now the Leukaemia Foundation's biggest annual national fundraiser - World's Greatest Shave to Care and Cure. The event raised more than $8 million in 2005.
Loma continues to be an active volunteer fundraiser for the Foundation, running World's Greatest Shave in Lismore every year and planning and supporting many other fundraising events such as a golf challenge later this year.
Loma has been instrumental in raising awareness about blood cancers such as leukaemia in the NSW Northern Rivers and the need for research as well as support for patients and families living with these diseases. To date, she has helped raise $250,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation in the region.
Loma works full time at Southern Cross University as the alumni and community relations officer.
