Baralaba tops state
THE Baralaba community may only have 300 residents but when it comes to fundraising you wouldn't know it.
After fundraising since December the final tally is in on the community's World's Greatest Shave fundraiser.
Fundraising totalled $25,139 making Baralaba the ninth highest fundraiser in Queensland and the 27th for Australia.
Team captain Vicki Bradshaw said she was excited with the results.
"For a little town we have done really well. Leukaemia Queensland were just astonished.
"We (Baralaba Bushies) had a team of nine and then an extra man jumped in on the night. This year we had one female head shaver, my husband shaved his legs and we shaved off a 15-year-old goatee."
The event was especially close to Vicki and her family after she faced her own battle with leukaemia for the past nine months.
"In the last 10 years there have been five families in Baralaba affected by leukaemia."
All money raised goes towards the Queensland Leukaemia Foundation to accommodate families required to travel for treatment.
"(For us) the accommodation support the Leukaemia Foundation has given our family in our many trips to Brisbane over the last nine months has made our lives so much easier.
"Taking a financial burden off our shoulders and looking after the arrangements makes the battle through leukaemia a smoother road."
Vicki said she was impressed with the community's support of the event.
"We had already raised $10,000 before the night. The show society really took us on by letting us hold the event at their show dance (in March).
"Baralaba Bushies had a hair-raising experience and are extremely proud of their achievement."
Vicki said the community raised $2400 for the Cancer Council's Biggest Morning Tea.
