Thursday 7 December 2006

Close Shave for Flavell - Maori Party Bares All

Te Ururoa Flavell, Member for Waiariki

Most people celebrate birthdays with a cake. Te Ururoa Flavell, destined to be distinctive, instead celebrates it with a shave. That's all his hair off his head (well what's left of it!)

"It's not just a matter of looking sharp" said Te Ururoa. "I couldn't think of a better thing to be doing, than to 'shave my lid for a kid', particularly children suffering from cancer".

"Cancer hits hard in many of our whanau" said Te Ururoa. "I am told that in Aotearoa, 150 children are diagnosed with cancer every year. I thought it's a little thing to do, to have my head shaved, but it's such a worthwhile cause".

"As our people say, Ahakoa he iti, he pounamu!".

"I'm hoping that Waiariki will start the trend, of supporting the fight against childhood cancer" said Te Ururoa. "Pretty soon, being 'bald' on the streets of Rotorua will be the only way to be".

Last month, sixty police officers and a further forty other locals of Rotorua, including Rotorua District Court Judge Chris McGuire, shaved their heads for a mission for Can Teen and the Child Cancer Foundation.

The head-shaving ceremony takes place at 5pm at Civic Square in Wellington. Mr Flavell has managed to raise at least $2000 - and the phone lines are still open! http://www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/teururoaflavell/

ENDS

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