Gabrielle Williams is raising money for Cancer Council by shaving her head in support of friend Eden Foster
Member for Dandenong Gabrielle Williams will shave her hair to raise money for the Council Council and bring attention to her friend and fellow Labor MP Eden Foster’s cancer battle.
Victoria
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As Labor MP Eden Foster underwent a series of gruelling chemotherapy treatments, her parliamentary colleague and close friend Gabrielle Williams remained on hand to assist.
Ms Williams – the state’s minister for public and active transport, government services and consumer affairs – regularly drove Ms Foster to and from her appointments at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
It was during these drives that the two women – who represent the neighbouring electorates of Dandenong and Mulgrave – forged an even stronger friendship.
By the second round of chemotherapy, Ms Foster had lost large clumps of hair, which prompted the ultimate pledge of solidarity from Ms Williams.
When parliament resumes on Tuesday, Ms Williams will shave her head to raise vital funds for the Cancer Council.
“I think at first (it started from) a joke-y discussion about ‘oh don’t worry about, I’ll (shave) mine as well’,” she recalled.
“(Then I thought) maybe we could (do the shave) for a good cause. It evolved from there. We thought we could build on Eden’s great work raising money for the Cancer Council and raise even more.
“My mum reassures me that as a baby I had a very good shaped head, so I’m just hoping that’s held up over the last 40 odd years.”
Ms Foster’s first reaction was: “You’re crazy”.
“But I felt really appreciative of the support,” she said.
Despite the trying times, Ms Williams’ trips to and from Peter Mac allowed “some of the most lovely opportunities” for the pair to connect.
“If you get the opportunity to play a support role to someone that you care about, I think it’s a great privilege,” Ms Williams said.
Ms Foster said she’s not back to her pre-chemo self but is feeling more energetic and is excited to return to parliament.
She’s used her battle to encourage people to listen to their bodies and seek answers when something feels wrong.
“I wanted to know more, I wanted answers and I think it’s really important that people push their GP for further tests, to get some answers and to nip it in the bud quickly because that can save your life,” she said.
In support of her friend and other Australians battling cancer, Ms Williams is raising money to help fund lifesaving treatments, prevention programs, and support services.
And she’ll give the single-biggest donor the opportunity to take the clippers to her hair.
Ms Williams has so far raised close to $15,000.
To donate: fundraising.cancervic.org.au/fundraisers/HonGabrielleWilliamsMP
Originally published as Gabrielle Williams is raising money for Cancer Council by shaving her head in support of friend Eden Foster
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