11 year old Palmerston resident Georgia Ritchie is shaving her head for Love Your Sister and Lifeline on Sunday the 18th August at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval. Georgia is the goalkeeper for Gungahlin United Football Club Under 13 NPLW team and has been selected to represent AC tin the School Sports Soccer Nationals.
In this article by her mother Helen, she explains Georgia’s motivation in shaving her head.
Why Love Your Sister?
Georgia and her family have been involved with Love Your Sister since 2017. They helped organise ‘The Big Heart Project’ in Canberra on 10th May 2017 and became very close to co-founder and mother of two, Connie Johnson.
The Ritchie’s carried a cardboard cut-out of Connie around Scotland on their family holiday in July 2017, sending photos back to her of all the mischief she was up to! Connie loved it and it gave her a much needed laugh most days.
Sadly, Connie passed away not long after they returned from Scotland, but Georgia had enjoyed helping Connie, and their friendship had taught Georgia about the importance of both fundraising and medical research.
Georgia wants to raise funds to donate to Love Your Sister as she knows that every single cent goes directly to cancer research and that the money will help them get closer to finding a cure so that other kids her age don’t lose their Mum’s like Connie’s kids did.
Sam Johnson, is continuing the drive for funds for research and is currently on the road again, doing a “Lap of Honour” around Australia for Connie. They have nearly hit the $10 million mark for funds raised.
Why Lifeline?
Georgia has had a very tough time since losing her friend in a road accident early last year. She has worked very hard to keep her life as normal as possible and to continue to do all that she loves – especially Goalkeeping! She has been greatly supported by her friends, family, teachers, coaches, Doctor and psychologist. Georgia now realises that getting help can be hard, and not everyone has the support around them to get them through the tough times. There are people out there with similar illnesses that don’t have anyone to talk to or the money to pay for treatment.
Lifeline is a lifesaving free service, a place where there is always someone at the other end of the telephone ready to listen, confidentially and without judgement.
It costs Lifeline $26 to take a call, which can save a life. Only $26! Most telephone crisis support workers take 8 calls in a 4-hour shift. That’s 48 calls just on one line, per day – a cost of $1,248!
Why is this ‘The Bravest Shave’?
Georgia was determined to shave her head before the end of the soccer season. What she didn’t anticipate was to be selected as the Goalkeeper for the Under 12 ACT School Sports Soccer team, competing in the Nationals in Canberra a mere week after the shave! She also has been selected for the Under 13s Boomerangs Futsal Team which compete in the FNSW Premier league in Sydney, starting in September. On top of that she is about to graduate from Primary school!
She is pretty certain that she will rock a beanie for a few months until her hair grows back, but we still think that with everything she has been through recently, it is incredibly brave to shave off all that gorgeous long hair!
Help Georgia reach her goal!
Georgia’s goal is $2,500 – $1,250 for Love Your Sister and $1,250 for Lifeline.
Every cent helps – no donation is too small.
We understand that things are incredibly tight for some people, so please don’t give more than you are able to afford.
Georgia, and Mark & I are extremely grateful for your donation. Donate here: https://chuffed.org/project/georgia-ritchie-the-bravest-shave
You are amazing
Thank you for helping Georgia to get closer to that goal xx
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