Titirangi man shaves mohawk for good cause

Nick Poortman, a 23-year-old audio engineer from Titirangi, is shaving his distinctive eight-inch high mohawk for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand's (LBC's) Shave for a Cure campaign.

Nick will be shorn by Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand's ambassador Hilary Barry at the Albany Farmers store on March 8 at 12pm.  Farmers, a long-term supporter of LBC are holding Shaves at 10 of their stores over Shave Week (March 4 to 10).

"I have personally been touched by cancer with a few friends receiving a cancer diagnosis.  If I can help raise money to help find a cure it's the least I can do,"

"I've had my mohawk for two and a half years now, and it has really become a big part of me. I'll have my hair up when it is chopped off, so hopefully it will provide some good entertainment too," says Nick Poortman.

Poortman says he spends 30 minutes to craft his hair into a mowhawk.

"I don't wear it that way every day.  The height of it can make driving a car pretty difficult," he says.

Shave for a Cure is Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand's largest fundraising event. Thousands of Kiwis across the country shave their heads to raise funds for the 6 Kiwis diagnosed every day with blood cancers - leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma and related blood conditions. Many of these patients suffer hair loss through treatment.

"We are delighted Nick is taking part in Shave for a Cure and helping raise awareness of our work.

Shave provides a fantastic way to really make a difference, and show you care, as so many New Zealanders have been affected by a blood diagnosis," says Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand's Chief Executive Officer Pru Etcheverry.

LBC receives no government funding and relies on Shave for a Cure to keep its services free of charge to patients.  These include patient support, support and funding for research, providing education and information and advocating on behalf of patients.

Visit Nick's profile here  http://www.shaveforacure.co.nz/view_event_profile/8122

People can register and establish individual fundraising pages at www.shaveforacure.co.nz