A Life Changing Diagnosis
Growing up, Rowan had bad acne which gave him regular visits to the dermatologist and routine blood tests while he was on the anti-acne drug Roaccutane. In 2024 18-year-old Rowan was in his first year studying Physio at UQ. Hanging out with mates and worrying about upcoming exams, he had no idea that his world would be turned upside down. He saw that he had missed a call from his dermatologist, however he thought nothing of it at first, it was probably about his next appointment having to be rescheduled, right? He rang back. Early in September of 2024 Rowan was diagnosed with acute promyeloid Leukaemia based off of preliminary results, a highly treatable cancer. Ripped from his regular life, confused and scared, not knowing the next thing about the Leukaemia, he waited for his livability diagnosis, given on a scale of favourable, moderate or unfavourable. However, after more test results came in, the initial diagnosis was changed to an Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. The treatment? Six months of Chemotherapy. The survival chance? Varied. Luckily, Rowan was given a favourable survivability chance, however it was lower than originally thought, shocking the young man and his family.
After 6 months of chemotherapy, Rowan started to make his recovery. However, disaster struck again when more tests recently revealed that Rowan now needs a stem cell donation in order to fully get rid of his Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. If you are between the ages of 18 and 35, please read his story on Register For Rowan, and consider signing up to the Stem Cell Donors page to help save Ro's life. Through this link, you can also read about what being a stem cell donator entails Rowan - Current appeals - Stem Cell Donors Australia.
Rowans story represents one of over 150,000 Australians who are facing the devastating impact of blood cancer, and 17 lose their life every single day.
That’s why I’m taking on the Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave. By donating to my page, you’ll help me raise funds and awareness for blood cancer, and fuel life-changing research projects and support services for patients and their families.
Any amount – big or small – will make a real difference.
Before
After
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Your Impact
Help me earn the Discovery badge. That's enough to fund 3 months of laboratory costs for a research project to discover better treatments for blood cancer.
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Wrap Around Care
Raised $50,000
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Research Outcomes
Raised $25,000
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Clinical Trial
Raised $10,000
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Financial Support
Raised $7500
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Discovery
Raised $4800
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Transportation
Raised $2500
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Personalised Treatment
Raised $1000
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Place to Stay
Raised $560
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Helping Hand
Raised $250
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Lab Equipment
Raised $53
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Off the Mark
Raised $1
I’m $1,613 away from my next impact milestone. Please help me reach it.
Donate nowMy Achievements
Help me earn the Discover badge. That’s enough to fund 3 months of laboratory costs for a research project to discover better treatments for blood cancer.
I’m $4040 away from my next impact milestone. Please help me reach it.
Donate now
Signed Up!
$1
$250
$560
$4,800
$10,000
Thank you to my Sponsors
Helen Newman
2025-03-23 17:15:13
$257.75
Anonymous
2025-02-25 20:50:29
Thanks for your efforts Ollie and for highlighting Ro's battle.
$250
Mum & Dad
2025-03-29 16:01:25
Great work Ollie. We are looking forward to shaving your head this week.
$211
Anonymous
2025-02-27 17:03:49
$211
Bob Law
2025-02-26 15:16:36
Ollie, you're amazing!!!
$200
Derek And Tam Butterfield
2025-02-10 12:59:47
Great cause Ollie. This is the same blood cancer that the boys Nonna is fighting. Good luck in your fundraising and look forward to seeing a photo when done.
$158.25
Valerie Gan
2025-03-04 08:52:15
$158.25
Clare Baker
2025-03-03 07:51:15
$158.25
All Roysmiths
2025-02-26 19:25:21
Amazing effort
$158.25
Rosamund Pankhurst
2025-03-26 09:05:02
An extremely worthy cause, and even more special to support Rowan.
$154.65
Ollie’s Chocolates
2025-03-29 16:04:19
Congratulations from Ollies fund raising chocolate sales
$106.12
Paul Greaney
2025-03-23 17:48:27
Thinking of Rowan! Great job on actively helping Ollie!
$106.12
Anne Calder
2025-03-05 18:36:54
Thanks Ollie, say hi to Rowan x
$106.12
1843 Capital
2025-04-05 11:51:11
Well done Ollie
$85.48
Julie Phillips
2025-02-09 18:01:25
$85.48
Amee Magee
2025-03-23 21:31:59
$68.87
Kim Fanning
2025-02-26 06:29:37
Good on you Ollie!
$57.30
The Slater Family
2025-02-06 21:31:00
Love your work Ollie. Brave man! From all the Slaters
$57.30
Archie Law
2025-02-26 20:28:05
$57.30
The Kelso Family
2025-02-09 16:38:47
Great work Ollie.
$55.81
Allison Smith
2025-02-08 11:19:08
Fantastic effort Ollie.
$54.12
Suzanne Pye
2025-03-05 21:54:45
Thank you for doing this Ollie!
$54.12
Leona Tong
2025-02-26 18:40:11
Thank you Ollie for doing this for my grandson.
$53
Axe @ Trc
2025-02-26 19:08:39
$53
Oliver Mellick
2025-03-04 20:19:51
$53
Sean
2025-02-06 21:29:31
All for a good cause mate
$33.15
Kerry Benson
2025-04-04 07:23:42
$27.81
Anonymous
2025-02-26 19:18:12
$27.81
Oli Dauber
2025-03-06 19:29:23
$22.58
Joshua Poynter
2025-02-07 09:25:34
Well done Oli. Great cause
$22.58
Will Quinlan
2025-03-31 23:02:03
$22.58
Ben Purcell
2025-02-12 20:26:52
$20
Maxwell Hirst
2025-02-19 17:45:38
$14.25
Josh Poynter
2025-03-04 09:25:07
well done bro
$11.65
Ryan Zand
2025-02-19 17:08:43
rawr
$8.28
Flynn Mccormack
2025-02-19 17:08:56
$2.99
Zach
2025-02-19 17:12:42
$2.99
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Your support is changing lives with the Leukaemia Foundation
50 years of supporting Australians with blood cancer
The World's Greatest Shave is the flagship fundraising initiative of the Leukaemia Foundation. This iconic campaign helps us provide wraparound health services for patients and their families – and powers groundbreaking research and campaigns for change.
Fuelled by our community of patients, carers, healthcare professionals, researchers, specialists, and supporters just like you, we're committed to achieving our goal of zero lives lost to blood cancer by 2035.
Thanks Ollie for supporting Ro.