About 4pm last Friday, just as Dan and Sam’s long, lustrous, thick hair was hitting the floor at the packed Pony Hair Salon in Noosaville and the bubbly was being poured as the TV news cameras whirred, the Wishlist donation app ticked over $7000, $2000 above target!
It was a euphoric, if scary moment as Noosa mums Danielle Langan and Sam Smith contemplated the outstanding success of their shaved head campaign while staring in the mirror for the first time at their new look. The video of the moment tells a story of conflicting emotions, but they both looked great. More importantly, their three-month campaign had raised awareness of the amazing work of local charity Wishlist which provides invaluable support for people suffering cancer and other serious illnesses, and raised money to help fund it.
As the girls posted on social media at the start: “The heartache associated with serious illness and disease touches most of us at some stage in our life, and we have experienced firsthand the loss and devastation that this can bring to families, both emotionally and financially. The work that Wishlist does in our local community to support families facing these challenging times is invaluable.”
Before starting her campaign, Sam had told her family she wanted to get out of her comfort zone in 2024. She’d always had that need to test herself, but this time, the big shave for both girls was driven from the heart by close proximity to cancer. They wanted to raise funds for cancer care while honouring family and friends who had been through it.
Shortly after being shorn, the girls were given a rousing ovation as they arrived at GT’s Bar on the river for celebratory drinks. Surrounded by friends and supporters, they positively glowed. As they should. Well done, Dan and Sam.
