€6k raised from Shave or Dye in memory of Colette
By Aideen O'Flaherty
A HAIRDRESSER raised €6,000 for the Irish Cancer Society by shaving her hair off at a ‘Shave or Dye’ event in St Anne’s GAA Club in Bohernabreena, which was held in memory of her mother who passed away last January, after battling melanoma.
Katie Oglesby (22), from Firhouse, saw her mother, Colette Oglesby, lose her hair when she started chemotherapy after receiving her diagnosis of skin cancer in August 2018.
Conor Kane, Ciara Naughton, Chloe Shan, Katie Oglesby, Laura Haughton, Kirsty Forde and Glen Fullam at the fundraiser in St Anne's
At the time, Katie said to her mother that she would shave her hair off too, but that never came to pass as Colette’s illness progressed.
When asked how her mam, who was 56 when she passed away, would feel about her shaving her hair off, Katie said: “She’d think I’m a bit of a mad thing, but she’d be delighted.
“When my hair started being shaved off, I think I was numb to it.
“It was more the thought of getting it done, than actually getting it done, that was worse.
“It’s only hair – I’m fortunate enough that it will grow back.”
Some of Katie’s relatives, including her brother, Shane, and cousin, Cara Moore, also shaved off their hair on the night in memory of Colette, and to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society.
“I never thought that I’d lose my mam to cancer,” Katie told The Echo. “I just want people to be aware that it could hit their family, and that it’s rampant.
“If I could raise enough money to help one more family to have their loved one comfortable in their final few days, I would go to great measures for that to happen.
“I felt if I could raise any sort of money for such a brilliant charity, shaving my head would be the way to do it.”
Over 100 people attended the ticketed event, with tickets costing €20 each, and a raffle was also held, while many people also donated to the event.
“I couldn’t have asked for more,” said Katie.
“I couldn’t believe the amount of people who came to St Anne’s and who donated.”
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