EACH person has their own reason for participating and supporting this year’s Shave for a Cure.
For Cheryl Rees from Salamander Bay, it was in honour and respect for her nephew Shaun Egan, 24 year old, fit, healthy, a full time mechanic and adoring daddy.
Shaun had been suffering from a bad back for a while, which he put down to the nature of his job, until one day the pain reached an excruciating level which is when he took it more seriously.
A week later he was vomiting blood and was taken to hospital to be told he was in the late stages of cancer.
Eight weeks ago, at only age 25, he passed away.
Cancer had taken another victim way too early.
Cheryl, wiping tears, said, “He was a fighter to the very end, six weeks prior to Christmas, he insisted on buying a pedal bike for his three-year-old daughter.”
“He bought one for himself too, as he planned on riding with her when he was better,” Cheryl said.
“He worked through the immense pain in his back and arms to assemble both bikes as he desperately wanted, needed, to see his little girl ride her first bike that he assembled for her.”
As Cheryl’s hair was being shaved off, the rain stopped and the sun shone, glistening off her tears and those supporting her.
Speaking after the shave, Cheryl told News Of The Area, “I am emotionally and physically floating, I feel amazing, he is with us, look at the sun shining after all of the rain.”
When asked if this was part of the healing process, Cheryl said, “Absolutely, I did this for him, his bravery until his last breath is inspirational, he was too young, simply too young.”
Cancer is not only lumps and changes in moles.
Cheryl urges anyone with any ongoing, unexplained pain to please get it checked out.
By Mandy ELLIS