Hi there!
In 2016 I made a personal vow to not cut or shave my hair and beard for 1000 days and to donate $10 each day I keep my hair to the Alzheimer’s Australia Dementia Research Foundation (AADRF) in honour of my father who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease last year.
Those of you that know me know that I have been clean shaven with short hair my entire life. Generally I don’t stand to have even two or three days of facial hair growth and my work industry requires me to be clean shaven. I now reside in Tasmania with my wife Maree recently relocated from Darwin, but have been working in Papua New Guinea since 2003. I met a worker in 2003 during my first week in PNG and he was donning long dreadlocks and a large beard, or as in Tok Pisin language 'mausgras' (pronounced mouse grass). When I asked him why he was not clean shaven he explained that as part of his Melanesian culture he had made a vow to not cut his hair for 1000 days out of respect for an Aunty who had passed away. Since then I have met various other PNG locals, from various locations and various cultures, who have taken similar vows after the loss of loved ones. I however, have never forgotten this first encounter way back in October 2003.
The idea for my vow stemmed from this custom, however it is slightly the opposite as my dad Peter continues to fight his battle with Alzheimer’s with my mum Lois doing a fantastic job as his carer. Taking into account the challenges those going through Alzheimer’s disease are faced with day to day, I figured that my current severe discomfort is just a grain of sand in the ocean comparison.
I began this journey on January 1, 2016, since then I have personally raised $5000 and hope to continue until September, 2018 which will see me reach my target of $10,000. People are shocked when they see me now after over a year of growing my ‘mausgras' and hair and when I tell them about my vow I have had several requests to donate to my campaign but replied that ‘this is my own personal thing’ and ‘I don’t want any glory’. So having said that I have relented and created this page for anyone who is feeling generous to donate to this very deserving cause.
Because this hair is out of control, itchy and feels like ants crawling on my face 24/7 I am being a bit selfish and if I reach my target of $10,000 before September 2018, the clippers will be out.
Right now there are approximately 413,106 Australians living with dementia and 291,163 people providing care either in the community or in cared accommodation. Without a major research breakthrough these numbers are expected to rise to 1.1 million people living with dementia with 775,959 carers by 2056. With no cause or cure currently available, research grants are vital to reversing these estimates. The AADRF helps to grow capacity in dementia research through funding Australia’s best and brightest early career researchers to improve future outcomes for people living with dementia, their carers, family and friends. If you are feeling generous please help me in getting this hair off my face and head and give to this great cause.
Donations made through this platform are secure and will be remitted directly through to the research
Update June 2017
I reached my target of $10000 after 516 days and the hair will be off June 11th 2017
My Mission is to continue to raise funds and to also make people aware of these horrible conditions Dementure brings and the support network that is available to all that effects so many people and loved ones
Please feel free to still donate and see how far I can exceed the target. Even with the lesser hair
I still will be donating $10 every day until end September 2018 and as of early June 2017 the balance is scheduled to reach $15000. With peoples generous support to the research fund who knows what we can reach
My Mission is now "Awareness and support", thank goodness the hair is gone and a huge thankyou to those who donated to achieve the haircut sooner
https://www.fightdementia.org.au/
NATIONAL DEMENTIA HELPLINE:
1800 100 500
Thanks so much for your support!
John O'Brien
Campaign active until 30 September 2018- 1000 days My personal pledge of $10 a day Feb 2018 $10/day Mar 2018 $10/day Apr 2018 $10/day May 2018 $10/day Jun 2018 $10/day