Being alongside Ash throughout her journey battling cancer inspired Ms Furness to raise funds for Ovarian Cancer Australia, with the aim to support research and raise awareness in Ballarat.  

The owner of Alfredton Hair and Beauty will extend her business opening hours on Saturday and donate all money raised to the cause. 

Four hairdressers from other salons in Ballarat and 16 staff members at the Alfredton salon will donate their time to work from 2.30pm to 5.30pm servicing customers with hair and beauty needs.

Local duo band D & A will perform during the afternoon, and a sausage sizzle, raffles, door prizes, and giveaways will help the fundraising effort. 

The fundraising event last year raised over $9000, which Ms Furness said blew them away. But the team were aiming even higher for Saturday’s fundraising total, a likely success with more customers booked in for services with more hairdressers and beauticians involved.  

“The clients love that their money is going to charity. We have lots of new clients that wouldn’t normally come to us but are coming specifically for the charity event,” Ms Furness said. 

Ash, the story behind the fundraising effort, will be helping out on the day. Last year Ms Furness had her washing hair. 

“Ash has been so positive throughout her cancer journey. She hasn’t let any of it get her down. She only just finished her treatment a month ago, but she is stronger than ever,” Ms Furness said. 

“We will do this fundraising event every year from now on because last year was such a huge success. 

“We are pretty much booked out for Saturday. We still have a couple of hair cut times available.”

According to Ovarian Cancer Australia (OCA), one in 10 Australians know someone who has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

OCA claim ovarian cancer survival rates are below the average for all cancers in Australia due to most cases of the illness being detected in later stages of development. 

Symptoms of ovarian cancer can include abdominal or pelvic pain, increased abdominal size or persistent abdominal bloating, the need to urinate often or urgently and feeling full after eating only a small amount.

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