Lose the dreads

By Christopher Kastelein

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I’ve taken a stand against blood cancer.

Back in November 2009, a close friend of mine, (and my wife’s cousin) Tim, went to his local Emergency Department after a couple of weeks of feeling short of breath. Later that day he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit with multiple clots in his lungs and a diagnosis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Two days later, before he could commence treatment, a large clot shifted and completely obstructed the blood flow to his lungs. He died in ICU at the age of 29.

Tim was one in a million. His loss was, and is still now felt very deeply. In so many ways it feels like his life was cut short. The comfort his family and I have is that Tim’s faith in Jesus was strong and certain. He’s now free from all pain, suffering and leukemia in heaven with Jesus, forever.

Raising money for Leukemia is personal for me and my family, but it’s not just us. Today more than 53 Australians will be told that they have blood cancer, and tomorrow, another 53. I am more than happy to lose my dreads in order to contribute to improving care and treatment for patients with Leukemia.

All the money you donate will help provide care for people with leukemia who need it right now — and it will back the brightest researchers to continue uncovering faster diagnoses and better treatments to save lives.

My Achievements

Congrats! You've hit your goal!

$80 raised - you've given a family a night of emergency accommodation!

You've covered genetic testing!

You've given a family a whole weeks accommodation near treatment

$1,000 raised - you've made a tube gene test with state-of-the-art-technology possible

You've covered 3 months of lab costs for vital blood cancer research

You've fund life changing research for 3 months

Thank you to my Supporters

$55.92

Mehrdad F

$55.92

Azadeh K

Thank you Chris 🙏

$84.40

Anonymous

$52.75

Tammy Page

Not the dreads! We won't recognize you. Great effort Chris and your target has been reached - well done.

$10.55

Anonymous

you are a star

$547

Joanne

Legend 🙏❤️

$84.40

Andrew & Deb Fisher

Fabulous effort Chris! Proud of you and love you lots.

$31.65

Paula

Totally inspired by what you have done, looking forward to seeing you crack the $10000.

$520

Cat Vredenburg

Thank you Chris for raising money for such an important cause! I lost my mum to blood cancer at the start of this year and the leukaemia foundation were incredible in the support that they provided to both mum and dad, but especially dad having accommodation close so that he could be with mum every day (they lived on KI). Thanks again ❤️

$84.40

Sue & Derek Clapham

Awesome work Chris!

$84.40

Anonymous

$21.10

Grace Bakos

$55.92

Bj Sorensen

$26.38

Katie Chandler

Super good work ! Should be so proud of yourself

$10.55

Kristy Gibbons

What a great effort! I think you'll float now!

$20

Kate & Steve Skinner

Amazing job!!

$21.10

Wyllie Kids

Proud of you Uncle Chris!!!

$84.40

Anonymous

$52.75

Anonymous

Ace work, Chris! :D

$55.92

Margie Wintulich

I bet you’re feeling light headed 😂

$57.24

Anonymous

$52.75

Anonymous

So inspiring!

$21.10

Jodie

$21.10

Anonymous

$31.65

Anonymous

$21.10

Sandra Ward

$55.92

Sue Hammerling

$10.55

Jackie Cork-gorringe

$52.75

Andrew Vanlint

$10.55

Janice Croser

Well done. Such a good cause.

$21.10

Kara Robbins

Amazing work!

$158.25

Athelstone Electrical

You’re a flipping dreadless legend!

$31.65

Cherie Kammla

$10.80

Benjamin Wong

$20

Anonymous

$21.10

Julie Mazzoleni

Well done Chris what a fantastic achievement love your work

$5.28

Anonymous

$21.10

Briony Pick

$55.92

Paul Mcliesh

$52.75

Kylie Pellizzari

Thank you for making a difference!

$127.66

Sarah Hill

$54.86

Maria Krystle Miranda

$10.55

Kris Ho

$55.92

Shane Greenough

Well done Chris,should be more like ya👌

$10.55

Cindy Pang

$21.10

Anonymous

$5.28

Cindy Pang

$10.55

Anonymous

$5.28

Anonymous

$5.28

Ephraim Rivera

All the very best!

$10.55

Rachel Kendall

$10.55

Kaitlyn Pascoe

$10.55

Amy Medlen

$5.28

Kaitlyn Pascoe

$10.55

Anonymous

$36.93

Tayla Schmidt

Well done legend!!

$21.10

Anthony Skelton

$50

Elodie Kraniac

Donating again for baked goods

$10.55

Gemma Whitehead

$21.10

Lana Gregory

$10.55

Anonymous

$10.55

Trang

$55.92

Bron Cooper

$10.55

Carly Kearney

$52.75

Mia Darling

$52.75

Sarah Hill

Awesome Chris

$10.55

Matthew Scholes

Good one mate!

$31.65

Sharon Mcgill

$10.55

Danika Vamplew

$10

Jayme-lee Matthews

$10.55

Anonymous

$21.10

Brenna Eckert

$10.55

Anonymous

Fantastic work Chris

$5.28

Vanessa Owen

Cutting one seed what a remarkable thing to do - thank you

$21.10

Kerrie Hill

$10.55

Madison Geisler

$5.28

Shirley Roberts

$10.55

Jocelyn Mitchell

$10.55

Amy Scragg

$5.28

Olivia Dagger

Amazing work!!

$5.28

Laura Purdey

$5.28

Zoe Coleman

$10.55

Katrina Gifford

$52.75

Hayden Riede

Great cause Chris! Now how am I going to direct people to you now that 'tall guy with the dreads is not an option'

$5.28

Lauren Walkington

$21.10

Dylan Hogan

Thanks for the dreadlock, I've always wanted one

$10.55

Danika Vamplew

$21.60

Alleela

GOD JOB CHRIS!

$20

Steph Supple

$10.55

Anonymous

$10.55

Ashleigh W

$10.55

Kate J

$84.40

Coops And Bron

$5.28

Maddisyn Collins

$21.10

Adele Stuart

$21.10

Karen Puvogel

Sensational work Chris

$10.55

Alicia Coetzee

$5.28

Anonymous

$21.10

Sam

$31.65

Kathlene F

RIP to the dreads. Enjoy your new scalp freedom

$21.10

Julia Dalton

What a guy!!

$52.75

Craig D

Good on you chris

$21.10

Heidi Davis

$50

Laura Balales

$20

Malinda Watson

$52.75

Leigh Healey

Great work Chris - what a fantastic cause!

$10.55

Anonymous

$57.24

Ailsinn Bailey

What dedication to the cause! Too bad I can’t be there to see them go.

$52.75

Sheree And Lecia

$21.10

Emma Short

$52.75

Lilian Mellink

$52.75

Chloe Mccluskey

$158.25

Imogen Nobbs

$31.65

Jan Alderman

$105.50

Frank Donnelly

Awesome effort Chris, a wonderful and generous contribution to a great cause. Please save some money for a name badge so we know who you are post dreads. Legend

$84.40

Cc

I remember Tim. He was kind hearted and good humoured. His death was so swift and tragic. Such heartbreak. It comforts me to think that we have only to wait, and then we will see precious people like Tim again. I’m thankful you are doing this to support others living with Leukemia, and the scientists searching for treatments and cures.

$42.20

Thomas Miller

$21.10

Bree Alexander

$21.10

Paige Gorostiaga

$21.10

Anna Laval

$26.38

Shannon Chapman

$55.92

Judy Ely

A new man!!

$55.92

Kirsten S

$42.20

Melanie Skinner

$105.50

Sean Casey

I hope you are not dreading the improvement in your aerodynamics- you will now be dreadfully fast!

$25

Megan Meredith

$150

Susan Dyer

Such a generous act to raise money for a worthy cause. Thank you for contributing towards helping to change the outcome for families living with leukaemia, you’re amazing 😊

$21.10

Linda Young

Great Cause

$50

Leanne

Well done Chris

$52.75

Renee Murphy

$55.92

Zoe C

$105.50

Colin Steven

Great work, hope its not too cold next week...

$55.92

Fiona Priestley

Way to go Chris!

$52.75

Jess Flaherty

$105.50

Lorraine Hanks

All the very best to everyone

$84.40

Cathryn Williams

$100

Paul Allcock

What are you going to do with all the mice that will need rehoming?

$30

Sara Zulian

Well done Chris! Such an amazing effort!

$84.40

Kat & Greg Price

So Good. LET'S GET TO 10K GOAL!

$50

Matt L

$100

Le Clercq's

Great world Chris

$53

Bec Papavgeris

$21.10

Anonymous

$50

Nick Kastelein

$52.75

Donna

Hey Chris, you’ve had those dreads as long as I’ve known you. They must be pretty stinky by now?!?! Happy to donate to see you lose them! I think you’ll look good with a shaved head!! I guess we’ll soon find out! Donna 😊

$53

Sharina Morton

Well done Chris on your support for blood cancer. My 66 year old mother is currently fighting Multiple Myeloma

$10.55

Sharleen T

Great cause and can’t wait to see the new hair style !!

$84.40

Louise Mcguire

So good Chris, thank you!

$21.10

Sukhman Kaur

$31.65

Meredith

what a fabulous thing you are doing - can't wait to see the new you:)

$55.92

Bethany Olszewski

$84.40

Sharon Lockwood

$31.65

Katrina Gifford

$55.92

Hannah Waters

$105.50

Chris

$158.25

Terry Ingleton

$52.75

Janine Brook

Hi Chris, What a wonderful cause! Good luck and please say hi if I don't recognise you without your dreads!

$520

Anonymous

$55.92

Corinne Woodd

What a wonderful cause. Thank you x

$84.40

Chris & Rachel Burgess

Surprised Mum hasn't offered you 10k to lose the dreads years ago.

$31.65

Acot Cikom

$55.92

Gemma

End of an era!

$52.75

Anonymous

$55.92

Bronwyn Ludlam

All the way Chris! I really admire your stamina in growing the dreads for so long, your decision to lose them in support of such a worthwhile cause, and your commitment to and love for your close friend Tim. Good luck with the cut!

$500

Sam Gluck

You will look so much better without them!!! Great cause and good on you!!!

$31.65

Tina Cockburn

Well done Chris, can't wait to see the results and an inspirational story.

$55.92

Julia Elsby

$15.82

Abbie Cork-gorringe

Beautiful message Chris☺️

$30

Kylie Zecchini

$105.50

Vanessa Owen

Tremendous effort Chris - thank you for your support of this wonderful cause

$50

Jayme Matthews

Great work Chris! Looking forward to the 26th :)

$100

Elodie Kraniac

$55.92

Liz Schloithe

Good on you Chris

$53

Janelle Brytan

You're an inspiration Chris!

$52.75

Kathy And Charlie Dunne

$21.10

Anonymous

Praying you reach your goal Chris

$55.92

Anonymous

$105.50

Wallie

Good job Mate

$53

Nyssa Jackson

$55.92

Donna Boord

Well done Chris! Hope to see the event. 😊

$52.75

Jade Faase

$21.10

Theo

Good on you Chris!

$52.75

Anonymous

$105.50

Anonymous

It's obviously a cause close to your heart to go under the clippers 😜

$21.10

B And M Dunne

Proud of you, Chris

$84.40

D And J Burgess

Good on you Chris

$105.50

Valerie Smyth

Great Chris. Well done

$211

Rob And Cathy Heyer

$21.10

Nick Abbott

$20

Janet Trotta

What a wonderful thing you are doing Chris!

$21.10

Felicity West

$150

Jo Burgess

Good on you Chris!

$50

Geoff And Heather