Worlds Greatest Shave - 2010

Hi everyone

what a massive week it has been for everyone involved in Worlds Greatest Shave...

I would just like to start off saying a massive thanks to the girls who make up the charity chooks...without their love, support and dedication, pete and i would not be able to do the things we do so well for our charities...quite often we are the 'faces'...but let me tell you, there are a group of girls who are amazing and truly motivated to help with our causes...so a massive thanks goes to B & leona, nat and donna, and more recently marnie, ange, monica and vikki (and all the partners!!!) for a wonderful effort... THANKYOU...these guys are the creative minds, planners, do-ers and cleaners to help raise money for all our charities...

Now...worlds greatest shave...an amazing few days have been unveiled...pete and i travelled to melb on fri arvo where we witnessed alan webster shave off his 'mo' after 32 years (i previously reported 34!!)...he is about $2,000 shy of a whopping $40,000!! an absolutely amazing effort and it was an absolute thrill for us to be there to watch it...Alan was very kind and used Eli's memory as part of his motivation (and his beautiful neice who passed away of a brain tumour at the age of 27 years)....he was clearly hugely supported and did a fantastic job...well done webby...well done...

The chooks hosted a public shave event at Lakes Entrance on Saturday 13 March - out the front of the Lakes Community & Sport Centre...the weather was absolutely perfect...we had a few who were brave and shaved including a couple of older ladies - Carol & Jean...When I asked Carol what motivated her to shave, she said "her dad, and Eli"...Jean was another lady who shaved and when i asked her, she said, "im doing this for Eli"...i was absolutely floored...here were two ladies who i had never met, but there they were shaving their heads for melon...i must admit, i shed some tears and thought this was just amazing...when i introduced myself as eli's mum, they were so thrilled to be a part of the day and said they had followed eli's story for the past few years...Pete and I still get floored at just how embraced we are in our community...and we absolutely cannot thank them enough...I was saying to Leona earlier today that there are three reasons we do what we do...1. To keep eli's memory alive....2. To raise awareness of these charities that do help families in regional areas and 3. To help them raise much needed funds to do what they do...

So, the shave was fantastic with Travis Murdoch raising just over $500 to have his head shaved (and who was a member of Melonhead)...Little Tom who raised around $200 and Vikki Eldridge who will have her head shaved on Monday Night at the local bingo club...at the moment, Team Melonhead has raised a fantastic $4,000, but we are hoping we should make it to around $4,500 and possible $5,000 by the time all our funds are banked...i was hoping for around $1,500 this year given everyone was so supportive last year...just absolutely blown away...the most important thing was to keep Leukaemia Foundation in the front of everyone's minds...so thanks once again for your continued support...and for keeping Melon's memory going...

enjoy the photos and we will keep you up to date with what the Charity Chooks are up to over the next few months....

all the best

hugs and love

the simpsons

xoxox

A little dog even got into the festivities!

This is what it is all about...luv ya big melon

Pete, me, ange and heath - thanks guys for the great help!

Some of the shavers and organisers all joining in on the fun...

Me giving Travis a big hug to say thanks...

Go Travis...and thanks again

the two lovely's selling raffle tickets...ange and vikki! Well done ladies

Carol & Jean - thanks so much for your support of Eli - and of the Worlds Greatest Shave...how brave!

Little Tom...what a champion...and yep, he did shave off all of those locks!

Get organised!

Please see below for a heap of piccies that i promised - got them done earlier than expected :-)

luv and hugs

the simpsons

xox

Mossman Gorge - QLD...absolutely stunning...

Photo taken by "connor"....almost there :-)

Connor and Jarad - Eli's mates who had the same condition as he did...JMML

Jarad's photo....least my head made it into the frame!! LOL

Beautiful sunset taken at Wilsons Prom on Friday 12 Feb...

Cant believe how time has flown!

I cant believe it has been so long since i last wrote...i would love to fess up and say its because i have been slack...but like everyone else, we have been flat out with 'stuff' yet again...

The last time i wrote, we had just come off a high from raising some $$ for Challenge - Supporting kids with Cancer...it has been nothing but flat out ever since...with both work and charity stuff taking centre stage...

For those that do ask about the twin boys who had JMML - Jarad and Connor, i was finally able to see them and give them a massive big cuddle in February...Jarad is still sick and is requiring many medical procedures, while Connor is pretty much back on track. While Jarad is home, he does spend a number of days through the week undergoing various treatments. After speaking with Chris - I think they are happy to be at home, although it still is clearly a trying time with them...when i can work out my camera...i will post some piccies of the boys (and show you the pics the boys took of me!)...it was a truly amazing experience to see them both again...and to see them looking happy and finally at home...it bought tears to my eyes...i know its still very much a trying time for the boy's family with Jarad still being sick with complications from his bone marrow transplant, but for the time being...they are alive and together and thats all they could hope for...

I also remember writing at the end of last year about Kelli Zook and her amazing friends who ran a marathon over in the United States to raise money for Leukaemia research over there...

Kelli sent me a copy of the DVD they had put together and it was absolutely amazingly beautiful. Thanks to all of you again...it was amazing...if anyone needs any inspiration, get in contact with me and i will send you the DVD...to me its just such a tragedy that we lose our loved ones to these diseases...just such a shame...but on the positive side, its wonderful to know there are people like Kelli out there doing a fantastic job raising money and awareness...well done to Kelli and team...well done...we here in Australia are just amazed...

Thanks also to my aunty Julia and her husband Michael who so very very kindly donated a DVD player and some DVD's for melon's cottage...you guys have only ever supported us...so a huge thanks to you...

thanks also to our mate Sally who I know reads the blog from her home in Laos...thanks to you for the DVD's you bought back after your last trip home...i know many families will enjoy them in time to come...

You all know by now that i am a lover of beautiful poems...either those that written in memory of Melon or those that i discover and share with you...

I have recently found something i would like to share with you:

The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss and have found their way out of the depths.

These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life, that fills them with compassion, gentleness and deep loving concern.

Beautiful people do not just happen.

Elizabeth Kulbler-Ross

I would like to dedicate that to all the beautiful people out there that continually help us to heal and to be the people we are. Thanks...

Pete and i have recently been to Cairns to catch up with Hayley, Dale and our nephews - Kyle, Blake and Connor. It is clear to us that Eli is still very much part of their lives with many questions and statements coming our way...like....Eli is the brightest star in the sky...where is Eli now...etc etc. Blake (who is 6) still has a giraffe that Eli gave him when Eli was in hospital. Even now...it is still just so humbling to know that people - especially kids, are still so touched by Eli's memory. We consider it to be the best gift of all...and im sure like other mums and dads who have lost their children, it helps us knowing that our children will never be distant memories.

Speaking of memories...we only have a week to go before Worlds Greatest Shave happens...this year we are having a 'public' shave out the front of the Lakes Entertainment Centre (esplanade side)...we will have a small craft stall, a bbq and shaves/colours to raise money for a great cause...It will all kick off at 10am and wrap up around 1pm...thanks to Trav, Vikki, Coral, B and Flicko for helping us with morning tea's. A massive mention to Alan Webster who is shaving his mo after 34 years...he has used melon's memory for part of his inspiration and has raised a whisker under $30,000...an enormous effort and we are all just so proud!

For those who would still like to donate in Eli's memory...you can go to www.worldsgreatestshave.org.au - sponsor a team - "Melonhead"....

I think thats about it for now...I will hopefully get on in the next couple of weeks and post some pictures of our adventures over the past couple of months.

Before i leave, i would just like to acknowledge Nicholas Timms who would have been 3 today. Nick died just after Melon did...and we like to think that they are up there being the brightest stars in the sky...Happy birthday Nick...as pete says...celebrating birthdays remind us of what should have been...celebrating anniversaries of when our loved ones die are reminders of what was....

luv and hugs

the simpsons

xox

Sausage Sizzle for Challenge

Hi everyone

I would like to say a massive thanks to all the chooks (and husbands and sons) who pulled together a wonderful day on Saturday where we raised just over $700 for Challenge - supporting kids with cancer through a really successful sausage sizzle...amazing...i dont think any of us imagined how many snags people can eat! At one stage we went through nearly 50 snags in 5 mins...it was incredible!

So thanks to all of our friends who came down to give us a hand (and eat our snags!)...it really was a great few hours to raise money for a wonderful cause!

Speaking of causes...the time has come again for Worlds Greatest Shave! Pete and i have not committed to a shave this year (because last years was so huge!)...but we have set up a memorial page for those of you who would like to donate to a wonderful cause in melon's memory. I think we will do it on an annual basis as it makes it easier for those who want to donate yearly, we can do it through that website, specifically for the Leukaemia Foundation.

For those that got to know Jenny Breheny (guru from Leukaemia Foundation-Gippsland), she and hubby dave are expecting their first baby which is super exciting for them...so we will have to make the most out of using her wonderful expertise in fundraising! As i said, we are not shaving this year, but we certainly invite people to join "Melonhead" if you would like to run your own shave/wax, or donate in memory of melon...if you are interested, just go to:

www.worldsgreatestshave.com, search Jodie Simpson and you should find us no problem. If you are keen to join, just let me know via melon's email eli-simpson@hotmail.com and we can hook you up.

Anyways..best go for now...would just like to say a massive thanks to everyone for their continued support, and we will be in touch again soon.

Happy australia day

luv and hugs

the simpsons

xox

Just a moment

Hi everyone

Ive had an amazing afternoon. Pete and i donated blood (pete's first time..you will have to ask him about it)! and when i got back to work, i played my ipod while doing some stuff. I have over 380songs on it and was amazed to hear melon's song "Somewhere over the rainbow" playing within the first couple of songs. I sat still, looked at a couple of photos on the wall and just remembered. I composed myself, then bugger me, a couple of my other fave songs came on (which i like to remember eli)..."Last day on earth" by Kate Miller-Hiedke, and "Watch over me" by bernard fanning...straight after each other...i giggled and wondered what melon was doing up there...THEN, Beyonce came on with "If I was a boy" (A song i downloaded in memory of Nicholas Timms), and a few songs later, "Dream Catch Me" and 2 more songs later "Amazing" by Alex Lloyd - songs that were played at little Alex Preston's funeral. All of this happened within an hour. I drove home and the first song that played when i walked in was "Birds and the Bees", something Eli loved because of the music...(thankfully not the words!)...By this stage i was truly amazed and felt that all the boys were up there giggling at me as i was trying to comprehend what was going on with my ipod...the thing was on shuffle and i hadnt heard those songs for at least 3-4 weeks...cheeky little buggers!

The best thing - well, for today at least, is that i could listen to these songs with a smile rather than sadness for the first time...as they say, perhaps one step forward. There may be steps back, but its nice to feel that there is just a little hint of forward every now and then.

All of our children are so deeply missed, every day. Words cant explain the emptiness one feels. All we can do is just try to learn to live with it.

So, to all our kids...we salute you!

love and hugs

the simpsons

xox

We are back!

Hi everyone

once again, so sorry for not writing for a while, but pete and i have been on a bit of leave which has been really nice. After a very busy start with just 'stuff', we were finally able to kick up our heels and head to WA to see our relatives over there. Thanks to mum (WAMMA) for having us and to Robyn and Linds who also had us over for a night. It was great to catch up with you all. We visited new norcia, york, freo jail (at night) and did a bit of shopping. Its a great place to visit and we look forward to catching up with you all again soon!

Christmas was obviously difficult once again. While we set up our lights, we didnt do a tree again. I guess the right time will come, its just what we want for now.

We had a lovely opportunity to remember our only christmas with Eli at a memorial run by Silver Lining Funerals. We saw a grab in the paper which said that they were going to open up the chapel to families and friends of loved ones lost so we took the opportunity to go. It was an amazing service and the gang handed out a lovely little christmas 'tag' so families could hang them on their tree. I dont think i stopped crying from the moment i stepped into the chapel to the time i left. Very very moving and something pete and i could do to help us through this time. So to Tom, Dale, Pete, Rachel and the rest of the gang at Silver Lining Funerals, thanks for the opportunity, it was exactly what we needed.

The other 'tradition' pete and i have continued is that we will buy a gift for a little boy for the 'wishing tree' at KMART. we did it last year, and i must admit its bloody hard. We wandered around the toys and thought, geez, melon would have liked this...but i guess its something we will continue to do in the hope we make a 2 year old boys life a little brighter...

The other thing we would like to acknowledge is the life of Olivia. Olivia lost her battle with cancer on the 5th January 2009 at the age of 17. I met her mum Rhonda at the Challenge weekend in October and she (like all parents who have lost children) is just so inspiring. Rhonda has recently helped the 'chooks' with making some purses to sell at the markets, so thanks Rhonda for sharing your skills and your time at this trying time. Olivia will always be with you no matter where you are and will ALWAYS be loved and remembered.

Speaking of Challenge, the chooks are aiming to have a sausage sizzle out the front of Safeway in Bairnsdale on the 23 January 2010. More details to follow, but every cent raised will go to challenge. So come along and share a snag and a giggle and donate to a great cause. If you are interested in seeing what Challenge is all about, just head to their website www.challenge.org.au. They helped us out heaps while we were in hospital, and we will never forget the great work they do to help families that have kids with cancer.

The other thing pete and i are going to do is sign up for the Worlds Greatest Shave again (although we are not shaving heads!)...it will just be an opportunity for you to donate some money which will be in Eli's memory. We are not going to go hard this year...we need a rest to be honest! Maybe some collection boxes at strategic points, and if you feel inspired, we would encourage you to have a morning tea at your work places etc. to raise some money for the Leukaemia Foundation!

The last thing the chooks have been busily working on is our Angel Ball...we have set a date for the 24th July 2010 and it will be held at the Bairnsdale RSL again. More details to follow, but last year was an absolute HOOT! We are having a christmas in July theme, and of course, will be having our competition for 'best angel wings'...so start planning now! All money raised will be donated to AngelFlight.

If you would like ANY further information on anything, please contact me on Eli-Simpson@hotmail.com

Its been another really trying time for pete and i, like i guess all parents who have lost their little ones probably experience. It really doesnt get easier. There are reminders around you every single day of what you have lost and what you would do to have it all back. Having a healthy child is truly a priviledge. Embrace your kids with love and kisses and give all of them an extra hug from us!

We were given this poem from some good friends of ours - thanks liz and paul...

I thought of you with love today

but that is nothing new

I thought of you yesterday

and days before that too

I think of you in silence

I often speak your name

All I have are memories

and your picture in a frame

Your memory is my keepsake

with which I'll never part

your spirit lives within me,

forever in my heart.

Please, keep these poems coming. I collect them and write them in a journal which i keep about Eli. They mean the world to us and its lovely that you think of the Simpson family.

Lets hope 2010 is a brighter year for ALL of us.

luv and hugs

the simpsons

xoxox

Christmas time is nearly upon us

Hi everyone...

our first post for december...time really flies doesnt it...and we are facing our second christmas without melon...no, this gig DOES NOT get any easier...

the other thing i would like to acknowledge is little Nicholas's 1st year anniversary. We shared a room with Nick on various occasions and got to know his mum and dad just as eli got really sick for the last time. Nicholas passed away on December 7th. What a courageous little boy and another amazing family to be touched by cancer. His mum and dad have been very busy and set up a foundation in Nicholas's memory. They recently held a golf day and raised an amazing $30,000 for research. Another really positive story out of a heartbreaking situation...well done you guys...

For those who would like to 'meet' nick and his gorgeous mum Belinda and dad Michael, click on the following link...http://cid-c003958b709310ec.profile.live.com/?sa=47730156. 

There really is some fantastic work being undertaken by many families who have been touched by cancer...so next time someone rattles a tin, sells raffle tickets, sets up a sausage sizzle etc, please dig deep because the volunteer work done by these families is extraordinary. Everyone deserves a medal i reckon!

anyways..i will remove my soap box. 

Quick update on melon's cottage...we have planted our grass, but pete is convinced the 'ants' knicked off with the grass seed! its very patchy, and kinda cute really!! LOL...definitely not at mowing stage yet! We are hoping to have the tin on the front fence over the weekend which is exciting...then i reckon we are proud to say we have done as much as we physically can on the cottage...i think over the next 12 months we will starting building our supplies for when we move out of here...i was hoping to get a bit of a collection of kids dvd's, and some games for the house so if the weather is bad, at least families have something to do...so if anyone has some old games kicking around that need a home, let me know...i will arrange to pick them up and take them off your hands!

Anyhoo...will go for now...will touch base again soon...

luv and hugs (and have a great weekend)

the simpsons

xox