All Black lock to shave beard to help young girl’s family
All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock is shaving his head and beard to help raise money for a girl whose mother died from breast cancer.
The fundraiser is part of an initiative by former All Blacks logistics manager Kevin ‘‘Chalky’’ Carr, who himself has cancer.
After being told in July his pancreatic cancer was terminal, Carr established a charitable trust to help raise money for people affected by cancer.
Chapter one, as he calls it, is helping 7-year-old Isla Lunn, whose mother Kellie Lunn, died earlier this year. Lunn was a solo parent and Isla is being raised by her grandparents.
In September Whitelock, a close friend of Carr’s off the pitch, shaved the heads of Carr and his two sons as part of the Givealittle campaign, which has so far raised $70,000.
With a goal of $100,000, Whitelock has decided to step in again, this time losing his beard and hair on December 3.
In a video posted on the Chalky Carr Trust Facebook page, Whitelock said Carr was ‘‘a true hero’’.
In 2011, when the earthquake struck Christchurch, Carr – then a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal New Zealand Navy – spent 12 hours searching for survivors in the CTV building rubble. He was later awarded the New Zealand Bravery Medal by then-GovernorGeneral Sir Jerry Mateparae.
‘‘Chalky has gone out of his way not to help himself but to help Isla, a gorgeous wee girl who lost her mother earlier this year to breast cancer,’’ Whitelock said.
Everyone who donates $5 to the page will go into the draw to win a signed All Blacks playing jersey and a training kit.
‘‘I’ve had my beard for a long time ... I love growing it out,’’ Whitelock said. ‘‘Haven’t had a baldie or a number zero for 10 years so hopefully it grows back.’’
Carr, who was MC at Whitelock’s wedding, said he was ‘‘incredibly privileged’’ to have the All Black’s help.
‘‘It’s more than just his position and his status, it’s the fact he’s such a good friend. He’s very close to me and my family, as I am to him and his family.
‘‘For him to be able to come on and help us is just really special.’’
Carr said he was ‘‘trucking along’’ fighting his battle with cancer.
‘‘It’s not easy at times, as you can imagine, but whenever we hit those dark times you look for motivation to get you through, and it’s always been a massive motivation of mine knowing there are people worse off than me.
‘‘It’s using that as a way to get through any tough times I’m going through as well as my family, my wife and my boys – it means a lot to me to be able to help other people.’’