Jayde and Brendan paying it forward for Gunnedah Can Assist

The Gunnedah Times reported on Can Assist’s Brave Shave Family Fun Day earlier this month. The community may have loved the face painting, sausage sizzle and the general good vibe, but as the name suggests, there were three family members who committed to the clippers that day.

Jayde Bain, Brendan King and son Cameran, chose to lose their locks with an aim of raising $5000, which went to the charity that helped them the most during a tough time.

Speaking with the Gunnedah Times recently, Jayde said they wished to “pay it forward” after Brendan underwent his own cancer treatment and received support from volunteers.

Raising money in a fun way was an opportunity to give back and help someone else through treatment, especially with Christmas on its way.

She recalled how they were in the thick of cancer treatment and trying to stay positive in home life.

“We kept our spirits high … that everything would all be okay,” she said.

It was around Christmas time, Brendan was unable to work and the bills were beginning to pile up.

Can Assist was a presence that came into their lives without them looking, but it turned out to be the support they needed.

“The thing is, we didn’t reach out and a lot of people don’t,” Jayde said.

“You push through and think ‘I’ll be alright’ or ‘we’ll figure it out’.

“I worked, the kids went to school. Life went on as normal, but Brendan’s life wasn’t so great.”

They were approached by Can Assist and soon things would be just a bit easier.

Volunteers were there to help, even if it was just in the form of conversation without overstepping.

“Just someone to sit and listen or just acknowledge that maybe today you’re not okay is the biggest thing ever,” Jayde said.

Then Can Assist would start helping with costs, that meant their lives were able to go on without sacrificing Christmas.

“They would just quietly take the bills away and we would come home and the bills were in the door with the receipt on them,” she said.

Jayde said Brendan being able to provide for his family, even in the form of using vouchers to pay for groceries, may have been a small “but at that moment it was massive”.

Brendan is now up to six monthly scans and check ups through the cancer clinic in Tamworth but as of the recent interview he is cancer free.

“The thought that somebody else could be going through that right now, we just wanted to do something and pay back the people that helped immensely just by giving a little bit and their time.”

Jayde encouraged people to reach out if they need help, whether it is just to talk or to help with finances.

“Please know it’s okay to accept a little bit of help now and then because we’re all in this together,” she said.