Hair today, gone tomorrow! Shaving my head on my 30th birthday for pancreatic cancer

By Ellie Duval-Hall

I'm fundraising for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

My donations could fund...

37 hours with a nurse on our Support Line

or

16 hours of early diagnosis research

My Achievements

Reached 100% of goal

Reached 50% of goal

Shared page

Self donated

My Updates

Why I'm shaving my head!

My 30th birthday is looming now, and I wanted to mark it in a big way! Sadly my Dad passed away from Pancreatic Cancer when I was 26 so he won't be here to see this milestone. This type of cancer is so deadly that it was only 2 weeks after he told me about his diagnosis that he passed away. He promised me he would fight it, but he wasn't even given the chance. Only 8% of people diagnosed are eligible for an operation and sadly he was not one of these. This is by no means an uncommon story. Life expectancy is 4 to 6 months on diagnosis. The chance of making it to 1 year is 20%, the chance of making it to 5 years, only 3%. Life expectancy on diagnosis of most cancers has improved drastically in the last 40 years, but these figures have remained the same for pancreatic cancer. (source: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng85/chapter/Context)
Pancreatic Cancer UK is fighting to raise awareness of this deadly cancer! It provides phone support from specialist nurses to patients and their families. They are also funding research and campaigning to improve treatment and diagnosis (40% of people diagnosed had already visited their GP 3 or more times with symptoms, these figures are from 2018 and may be worse since the pandemic!)
So to support other families and patients battling this awful disease, I wanted to do something! I thought a new decade deserves bold action, so I decided to shave my head to raise funds for this charity! Anything you can give would be so greatly appreciated!

Thank you to my Sponsors

£26

Peter Morley

£5.20

Elodie

Apologies for the belated donation, but well done Ellie for your commitment to raising funds for such an important cause which I know is also very close to your heart ❤️

£10.40

Sian Till

Such a great cause. Well done Ellie! ❤️

£10.40

Lucy Duval-hall

£13.52

Owen Flatley

Top job, Ellie. Have just seen the video your mum has sent round. Phil would have loved it. Owen, Sian and Gwenno xx

£26

Allen Sadler Salon Staff <3

Well done!

£10.40

Debbie Davis

Fabulous Ellie !! Xx Love Deb, Liv & Luca

£50

Simon Davis

Well done Ellie, very proud of you x

£52

Emma D

Well done on the head shave- looks great and a great charity

£20.80

Andrew Gale

Good luck for a very good cause

£10.40

Henry Critchley

From Grandpa

£20.80

Julie Duval-hall

Proud of you Ellie!

£10.40

Arran Mckinty

I'm just glad you're going bald before me x

£20

Jia Patrick

What you're doing is absolutely incredible. I hope all is well with you and your family, and know that your dad would be so proud. X

£20.80

Jenny Jones

What a brave and wonderful way to raise money and awareness for such a worthy cause. Your dad would be so proud of you. Happy birthday to you and Izzy in a few weeks' time xx

£52

Phillip Griffiths

Just amazing Ellie!

£5.20

Carol Rees

From Arran's grandmother ☺️ xx

£8.32

Rachel Mckinty

What a brave thing to do x

£20

Alison

Well done Ellie! Great cause!

£20.80

Jenny Fenech

I was so sad to read you lost your Dad so early - and so touched by your fundraiser (I know how attached I am to my hair) ! A friend of yours commented 'we'll see mire of your beautiful face' - so true - because your inner beauty shines through that lovely smile !

£10

Hannah James

£10.40

Lauren Rees

An incredible thing to do! And happy birthday!

£30.16

Cath

What an amazing thing to do, Phil would be so proud of you xx

£10.40

Chloe Davies

Amazing Ellie so much admiration for you and for such a good cause! 💕 xx

£30.16

Isobel Symonds

Happy birthday Ellie. An admirable and moving way to turn 30. Phil would be so proud of you

£52

Helen Jenkins

Well done Ellie, what a fantastic idea! Your Dad would have been so proud of you. And Happy Birthday xx

£5.20

Becky Rushton

Amazing Ellie! Such an important cause and I'm so proud of you for doing this. You brave, beautiful human ❤️

£20.80

Izzy

Well done Ellie!

£25

Karen Willmott

Ellie we are so proud of you, a very selfless act for a very worthy cause. Our Phil will be watching I have no doubt of that. Love sent xx

£25

Richard Terry

Well done Ellie - what a wonderful gesture. Phil would be so proud of you! I'm sure that your hair will return as luxurious ad ever!

£20.80

Samantha

You are amazing! Your Dad would be enormously proud of you! Sending you love xxx

£104

Steve Davis

What a special thing to do Ellie. I’m very proud of you- my brother (your Dad) would be delighted at all your effort. Happy Birthday xx

£30

Trish Gale

What a lovely gesture to mark your milestone birthday.

£10

Laura M

Good luck and happy birthday! I'm so sorry your dad isn't here x

£52

Theresa Davis

Such a brave thing to do, Ellie. I am so proud of you and your dad would be too. Xx

£20.80

Eleri

Amazing ♥️Xxx

£20.80

Richard Duval-hall

£10

Natasha Oughton

£20

Nicholas

Phil will be proud!

£10.40

Sian Keady

Best of luck! I hope everyone digs deep to support you

£20

Lauren

Love this! ❤️

£10

Ashley Bloor

£10.40

Rhiannon Griffiths

Sending so much love xxx

£5.20

Ellie