#ShavingItOff for Leukaemia
Donation protected
#ShavingItOff for Leukaemia!
I am shaving my head to raise funds to give my favourite person her dream honeymoon and raise awareness for leukaemia.

Once upon a time, in a tiny/awful bar in downtown San Francisco, a boy met an amazing girl…..
I know what you’re thinking, “it wasn’t that bad” but seriously - with contiki torches and coconuts everywhere, playing some bizarre style of ‘country rock’? It was TRULY awful…..
Shattering the bubble I can say for us both that this isn’t one of “those stories”.
It is by far a greater story. About the most amazing girl I have ever met; and how too often, for too many, everything that was once trivial or something to look forward to in the future; is stolen. In deafening silence.
“Looking to start a family and diagnosed with leukaemia.”

Our beginning actually started in Toronto. I was on holidays and a mutual friend connected us. As we both worked for the same company Salesforce (literally the worlds leader for all things ‘culture and connection’), we should have been better prepared for the lifelong relationship that followed.
Prior to this, the mantel was held by a jar of Vegemite I’ve had since university - who is still with me, just as an FYI, in case you were wondering..… his name is Andrew.
What ensued was entirely a scene of pure comedy. Much to the probable annoyance we caused to our mutual friend by the flurry of Facebook notifications (it was a group chat, until… he rightly, said stop). Our friendship was formed.
Amongst the barrage of messages in arguably a loose version of pigeon-English, emoji’s & meme’s; we only provided a mere 30 minute window. At this stage and for us both, remained a sheepish ‘peer-obligated’ formality.
Yet, these 30mins quickly turned into an hour. That hour quickly turned into years. Fast forward to that god awful “contiki bar” in San Francisco where the night included a barrel roll underneath the gate of our hotel carpark; my sunglasses and dignity available for collection the next day at concierge. I am yet to collect them…

For all intents and purposes, saving time through rehashing all of our weekly shannanigans, she became the sister that I always wished I had. The one I often too, wish I didn’t. A sister I leaned on. The sister, who picked me up when I needed it.
In 2017 at the spritely age of 27 I became a legal guardian & carer of someone suffering from affective bipolar disorder (a story can be read here ).
I found homage and support in her open arms. A casual conversation quickly turned into the booking of tickets to Toronto and then the very next day, I was living in her downtown one-bedroom-apartment. I found myself. Or if I am being completely honest, she “humpty-dumpty’d” me back together.

I rediscovered my drive. I found my passion. I reconnected to my inner-self; even fell in love again.
It is safe for me to say, I wouldn’t be who I am now without her (although excluding that ‘one time’ in Cambodia for 48 hours - we’ve all been there. Right?) . Most importantly, it wasn’t ‘all of the kings horses or all of the kinds men’, it was just her. And now it is her life that has been shattered into pieces. Pieces that I cannot put back together.
She has done much more for others; for her family, close friends, colleagues or the staff who she has mentored. Earlier this year, she met the love of her life (I love him too #LoveMeBackSteve). They bought a home, moved in together and started to do all of the things, all of those real moments you create, when you start that journey with your soulmate.
Always knowing she wanted to be a mother, together they commenced IVF treatment to create a family of their own. A time of joy. Bliss. Excitement. A time that was stolen…..
“I wanted to tell you first, I started IVF treatment & they found an abnormality in my blood. I have leukaemia. I will beat this. I just wanted you to hear it from me”
Undeterred. Fearless. Powerful. She jumped head first into an entirely new challenge and in true form, she wasn’t about to let it take absolutely anything away. She married the love of her life (70% my beau too now) in a private ceremony with her close friends and family, before starting chemotherapy. She didn’t skip a single beat. I am so proud.
She will beat this. I know she will. She has to.
As the circumstances dictated, a diagnosis both changed and built the future. I wasn’t able to join those precious moments and watch as she quickly took her vows - those moments that I knew were the most meaningful of all.

I wasn’t able to throw an elaborate hens party, toast her new future, or even shake the hand of the man who would be her husband (and to make Steve momentarily uncomfortable with that “if you ever hurt my sister” statement). Although to his credit - he’s a really cool guy and I folded within seconds of our first chat…. Sorry Shannanigans!!
I wasn't able to sit by her hospital bed, to hold her hand, to reassure her behind a surgical mask that everything will be ok and keep her company during those uncomfortable, dull and painful moments of chemotherapy.
She doesn't need it. She’s always been the ‘strong one’. But she deserved it. Strong people are always the easiest to overlook. Her day to day, her career, her fierce and independent personality - ultimately, her idea of reality. Forever changed.
Like too many diagnosed with leukaemia, she built happiness in circumstances no one really imagines. Asking for nothing. Most of her time was spent navigating her new found medical obligations and then making everyone else ok with it.
Her wedding - she was stunning (Steve, you were like, ‘kind of ok’ too - and again, to this day I am not even remotely sorry for superimposing my face over hers).

Even though it didn't quite have the same ring to it.......

This story like so many, isn’t unique. It’s a fear we never hope to experience. With so much stolen, I need your help to give something back. Once she finishes treatment, she deserves to take the honeymoon of her dreams.
So I am shaving my head (which isn't original but I can hear her scream - "seriously, what, don’t. You will look like an egg!!") to raise awareness for what too many people have to endure.
Unfortunately, it isn't my first rodeo. At that time things like GoFundMe/Facebook didn't exist - everything that came with the shattering reality was just simply called life.
Things are different and for anyone who reads this, sharing is as powerful as a donation (and if you donate, share it too #GiveBackWhatsStolen + https://www.gofundme.com/f/givebackwhatsstolen).
Thank you for your supporting Shannon Millar.
Thank you for helping me to give something back.
Matthias

I am shaving my head to raise funds to give my favourite person her dream honeymoon and raise awareness for leukaemia.
Once upon a time, in a tiny/awful bar in downtown San Francisco, a boy met an amazing girl…..
I know what you’re thinking, “it wasn’t that bad” but seriously - with contiki torches and coconuts everywhere, playing some bizarre style of ‘country rock’? It was TRULY awful…..
Shattering the bubble I can say for us both that this isn’t one of “those stories”.
It is by far a greater story. About the most amazing girl I have ever met; and how too often, for too many, everything that was once trivial or something to look forward to in the future; is stolen. In deafening silence.
“Looking to start a family and diagnosed with leukaemia.”
Our beginning actually started in Toronto. I was on holidays and a mutual friend connected us. As we both worked for the same company Salesforce (literally the worlds leader for all things ‘culture and connection’), we should have been better prepared for the lifelong relationship that followed.
Prior to this, the mantel was held by a jar of Vegemite I’ve had since university - who is still with me, just as an FYI, in case you were wondering..… his name is Andrew.
What ensued was entirely a scene of pure comedy. Much to the probable annoyance we caused to our mutual friend by the flurry of Facebook notifications (it was a group chat, until… he rightly, said stop). Our friendship was formed.
Amongst the barrage of messages in arguably a loose version of pigeon-English, emoji’s & meme’s; we only provided a mere 30 minute window. At this stage and for us both, remained a sheepish ‘peer-obligated’ formality.
Yet, these 30mins quickly turned into an hour. That hour quickly turned into years. Fast forward to that god awful “contiki bar” in San Francisco where the night included a barrel roll underneath the gate of our hotel carpark; my sunglasses and dignity available for collection the next day at concierge. I am yet to collect them…
For all intents and purposes, saving time through rehashing all of our weekly shannanigans, she became the sister that I always wished I had. The one I often too, wish I didn’t. A sister I leaned on. The sister, who picked me up when I needed it.
In 2017 at the spritely age of 27 I became a legal guardian & carer of someone suffering from affective bipolar disorder (a story can be read here ).
I found homage and support in her open arms. A casual conversation quickly turned into the booking of tickets to Toronto and then the very next day, I was living in her downtown one-bedroom-apartment. I found myself. Or if I am being completely honest, she “humpty-dumpty’d” me back together.
I rediscovered my drive. I found my passion. I reconnected to my inner-self; even fell in love again.
It is safe for me to say, I wouldn’t be who I am now without her (although excluding that ‘one time’ in Cambodia for 48 hours - we’ve all been there. Right?) . Most importantly, it wasn’t ‘all of the kings horses or all of the kinds men’, it was just her. And now it is her life that has been shattered into pieces. Pieces that I cannot put back together.
She has done much more for others; for her family, close friends, colleagues or the staff who she has mentored. Earlier this year, she met the love of her life (I love him too #LoveMeBackSteve). They bought a home, moved in together and started to do all of the things, all of those real moments you create, when you start that journey with your soulmate.
Always knowing she wanted to be a mother, together they commenced IVF treatment to create a family of their own. A time of joy. Bliss. Excitement. A time that was stolen…..
“I wanted to tell you first, I started IVF treatment & they found an abnormality in my blood. I have leukaemia. I will beat this. I just wanted you to hear it from me”
Undeterred. Fearless. Powerful. She jumped head first into an entirely new challenge and in true form, she wasn’t about to let it take absolutely anything away. She married the love of her life (70% my beau too now) in a private ceremony with her close friends and family, before starting chemotherapy. She didn’t skip a single beat. I am so proud.
She will beat this. I know she will. She has to.
As the circumstances dictated, a diagnosis both changed and built the future. I wasn’t able to join those precious moments and watch as she quickly took her vows - those moments that I knew were the most meaningful of all.
I wasn’t able to throw an elaborate hens party, toast her new future, or even shake the hand of the man who would be her husband (and to make Steve momentarily uncomfortable with that “if you ever hurt my sister” statement). Although to his credit - he’s a really cool guy and I folded within seconds of our first chat…. Sorry Shannanigans!!
I wasn't able to sit by her hospital bed, to hold her hand, to reassure her behind a surgical mask that everything will be ok and keep her company during those uncomfortable, dull and painful moments of chemotherapy.
She doesn't need it. She’s always been the ‘strong one’. But she deserved it. Strong people are always the easiest to overlook. Her day to day, her career, her fierce and independent personality - ultimately, her idea of reality. Forever changed.
Like too many diagnosed with leukaemia, she built happiness in circumstances no one really imagines. Asking for nothing. Most of her time was spent navigating her new found medical obligations and then making everyone else ok with it.
Her wedding - she was stunning (Steve, you were like, ‘kind of ok’ too - and again, to this day I am not even remotely sorry for superimposing my face over hers).
Even though it didn't quite have the same ring to it.......
This story like so many, isn’t unique. It’s a fear we never hope to experience. With so much stolen, I need your help to give something back. Once she finishes treatment, she deserves to take the honeymoon of her dreams.
So I am shaving my head (which isn't original but I can hear her scream - "seriously, what, don’t. You will look like an egg!!") to raise awareness for what too many people have to endure.
Unfortunately, it isn't my first rodeo. At that time things like GoFundMe/Facebook didn't exist - everything that came with the shattering reality was just simply called life.
Things are different and for anyone who reads this, sharing is as powerful as a donation (and if you donate, share it too #GiveBackWhatsStolen + https://www.gofundme.com/f/givebackwhatsstolen).
Thank you for your supporting Shannon Millar.
Thank you for helping me to give something back.
Matthias
Fundraising team (3)
Jd Matthias Biz
Organizer
Prahran VIC
Stephanie Wells
Team member
Nick Hultink
Team member
