Kristal Elliot’s world was turned upside-down when, at just 23 years old, she lost her mother Christine to oesophageal cancer. Christine was only 49, and Kristal a new mum herself to little Amy, when this devastating loss shook their family.
Christine’s favourite colour was cobalt blue – she wore it with everything, Kristal told us, even if it didn’t match – and so Kristal has carried on her mother’s passion for the colour, in a shave and colour fundraiser which was held on Sunday 18 August. Fittingly, in memory of her mother, she called the event ‘Cobalt Blue’.
Before the event Kristal rallied the community behind her. In the lead-up to the big day, girls from the local dance school, Sharon Sander’s Dancers, hosted a crazy hair and pyjama class and the local school, Specimen Hill Primary, encouraged their students to dress in cobalt blue to help raise funds for cancer research.
On the day, family, friends and people from all over the Bendigo Community gathered to share in raffles, auctions, children’s entertainment, face painting, balloon making and a jumping castle. But the highlight of the event was in the group headshave and colour – something which Kristal of course partook in as a special gesture to her mother’s own experience during cancer treatment.
“Mum lost her hair during her chemotherapy and radiation. She was particular about her appearance, so it was a very undignifying thing to go through,” Kristal said.
“For a cancer patient they deal with all of this plus cancer, illness, treatment and the fight to survive. Cancer patents are truly inspirational!”
Kristal and her supporters have now raised over $17,500 for cancer research through their amazing fundraising efforts.
We are so very grateful and humbled for Kristal to have chosen the ACRF as the beneficiary of a fundraising event so dear and close to her heart. We’d like to thank each and every person who supported Cobalt Blue, helping to make it such a great success.
Below are some wonderful photographs taken of the day. All photographs taken by Christine Sayer Photographics.
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