Australia’s leading blood cancer charity, the Leukaemia Foundation, is calling on radio hosts around the country to go bare for its iconic World’s Greatest Shave campaign in 2026. For over 25 years, the flagship fundraiser has brought people together in solidarity to shave, cut or colour their hair, to raise vital funds for the 170,000 Australians living with blood canceri.
With preparations underway for the campaign’s highly anticipated return in 2026, the Leukaemia Foundation is daring radio announcers around the nation to go bare (on their heads, that is) by getting creative and shaving their hair live on air to encourage donations throughout March.
“Australia’s radio industry has always played an important role in the World’s Greatest Shave,” Leukaemia Foundation CEO Chris Tanti commented. “From on-air shaves, cuts and colours to exciting activations and community challenges – partnering with radio announcers and programs across the country has helped the Leukaemia Foundation raise millions of dollars towards critical blood cancer research, advocacy and support services.”
With blood cancer – including leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma – on track to become the leading diagnosed cancer in Australia by 2035ii, Mr Tanti said that signing up for the World’s Greatest Shave had never been more important.
“Every day, 55 Australians are diagnosed with a blood canceriii. That’s one person every 26 minutes,” Mr Tanti commented. “Sadly, a further 17 people will lose their lives to this disease every dayiv – that’s 17 mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, siblings and grandparents. Seventeen families that lose a loved one. We want to see as many announcers as possible using their creative flair and rising to the challenge, knowing that every strand of hair you change, and every dollar you raise, will make living with blood cancer less scary for somebody else.”
Funds raised will help the Leukaemia Foundation continue providing its wraparound support services to Australians with blood cancer, including free accommodation, assistance with transport to appointments, reliable information, as well as other financial and emotional support. The funds will also help make significant strides towards finding more targeted treatment options, and fund game-changing advocacy and research with the hope of, one day, finding a cure. Each year, around 20,000 Australians sign up for the World’s Greatest Shave, with more than two million participants sacrificing their hair, or donating to someone who has, over the past 27 years.
Aussie radio announcers, do you dare to go bare and shave (cut or colour) your hair, this World’s Greatest Shave?
