Shear generosity at Lifestyle Shepparton’s annual fundraiser

By Taylah Baker

Dec 7, 2023

**Razor-sharp:** Ken Watson was treated to the first shave of the day. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

By the hairs on their chinny chin chins, Shave Day participants were blown away by the generosity of this year’s fundraiser.

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Every year, Lifestyle Shepparton residents organise Shave Day to raise funds and awareness for the Peter Copulos Cancer and Wellness Centre at GV Health, Shepparton.

In its ninth year, the bold and the bearded came forward at a ceremony at the Clubhouse on Monday, December 4.

One such individual stepping up to the barber chair was the Shave Day founder himself, Gavan Pritchett.

“In 2014, we started Shave Day because anything run for cancer in here (Lifestyle) was to do more with breast cancer and things like that; there was nothing specific to men’s health,” he said.

Mr Pritchett decided that all funds should go to the Peter Copulos Cancer and Wellness Centre to ensure money that’s raised by the Shepparton community, stayed in the Shepparton.

“Last year, we raised about $13,600, and the Lifestyle Communities Foundation give us dollar for dollar, so we ended up donating $26,000,” he said.

“I reckon we’ll get another $20,000 this year, the way things are looking.

“We’ve got many donors. I can’t believe how generous people are – the people here (at Lifestyle) and the people in the community.

“There are 100-odd businesses in the community that are a part of it, and there’s not many knock backs.”

Local businesses such as Ken Muston Automotive, Harvey Norman Flooring, Anaconda, and Pillow Talk commit to donating money, vouchers, and goods annually for the cause.

These items are then auctioned off on the day or included in the raffled-off hampers.

Likewise, Mr Pritchett dedicates two months to the five o’clock shadow and the itching that comes with it.

But he knows it’s worthwhile – a little discomfort goes a long way for the cause.

Peter Copulos Cancer and Wellness Centre prostate cancer specialist nurses Sonia Strachan and Nicole Lewis attested to this, giving a speech of gratitude to all participants at the ceremony.

Lifestyle Shepparton manager Gabrielle Beck said it was a fun day for their visitors and residents and a testament to the hard work leading up to it.

“Gavan’s the one that drives it, we support it,” she said.

“It’s the homeowners that do all the work, and it’s a credit to them.”

UPDATE, December 11: Lifestyle Shepparton has announced that their 2023 Shave Day campaign raised $18,000, which was matched by the Lifestyle Communities Foundation, bringing the total donation of $36,000 to the Peter Copulos Cancer and Wellness Centre.