[vc_row][vc_column width="1/1"][vc_custom_heading text="Hair-raising fundraising!" font_container="tag:h2|font_size:40|text_align:left" google_fonts="font_family:Abril%20Fatface%3Aregular|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal"][vc_column_text]

AUGUST 2016 | Elizabeth Douglass

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MARK KOLODZIEJ and the workers at Kolmark are busy cultivating beards while they work.

Over several months, this hirsute pursuit will contribute funds of around $100 per beard to Phil’s Dive for a Cure - an annual event held in memory of Phil Malkin, a member of the Tasmanian diving community, who died in January 2015 after a courageous three and a half year struggle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.

Phil’s Dive for a Cure aims to raise money for, and awareness of, the Leukaemia Foundation.

The Foundation funds vital research into blood cancer and related blood disorders as well as providing no-cost support services for patients and their families.

Kolmark was a corporate sponsor of the inaugural Phil’s Dive for a Cure, held at Bicheno last year, and will be so again this year, when the second event is held on 13th November.

Kolmark is a major Tasmanian-owned Stainless Steel fabricator, based in Westbury and employing over 30 people. They are a specialised supplier of high-quality stainless steel products to the pharmaceutical, metallurgic and food industries.

Mark has been involved with Phil’s Dive for a Cure since the inaugural Dive.  As a friend of Phil, Mark was also aware of other leukaemia sufferers, a work associate’s wife who had also died and a young apprentice who is suffering from a similar blood disorder and faces an ongoing battle with no cure at this stage.

So this year, Kolmark employees have also decided to grow beards to raise more funds for the Dive to fight leukaemia.

Over nine employees, including Mark himself, now proudly display a range of facial hair, all for a very good cause.

The 2016 web page for Phil’s Dive for a Cure should be accessible in August, but in the meantime, Phil’s Dive for a Cure can be found on Facebook.

[udesign_icon_font name="fa fa-camera" color="#000000"] Mike Moores