Touching moment couple had their heads shaved on their WEDDING DAY in solidarity with bride’s mother who was battling cancer – before she died of the disease two months later
- Luna Macapagal, from Auckland in New Zealand, had stage 4 ovarian cancer
- Her daughter Jony, 20, and her husband Alistair both shaved their heads
- They say they did it to show that cancer fighters are never alone in their journey
A bride and groom planned a unique surprise for the mother of the bride on their wedding day by taking to the dance floor and shaving their heads in solidarity with her fight against cancer.
Luna Macapagal, from Auckland, New Zealand, was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer in 2018 and had been through surgery and chemotherapy, as well as radiation treatment and medications to keep the disease at bay.
Luna’s daughter, Jony, 20, wanted to surprise her mother – who has since sadly passed away – by shaving her head in solidarity, and ahead of their wedding day her then-fiancé Alistair, 20, suggested they go one step further.
Alistair thought they should both shave their heads on the wedding day itself, and so, on November 21, despite being a little nervous, Jony decided to go ahead with the plan.
Luna Macapagal’s daughter Jony has her head shaved on her wedding day in New Zealand to support her mother who had ovarian cancer
Jony’s husband Alistair had his head shaved first on the dance floor. He says he wanted Luna to feel supported during her cancer battle
After the ceremony had taken place at the Allely Estate in Kumeu, Jony and Alistair took to the dance floor.
After their first dance together, guests including Jony’s parents thought the couple would do a traditional Filipino dance where guests would give the couple money.
But instead the DJ announced that the couple were planning to do something different before Alistair sat down and had his head shaved by Jony.
Then, as the room filled with a combination of laughter and tears, the couple swapped places and Alistair shaved off his wife’s hair as well – all for a good cause.
The couple have set up a donation page which will see funds raised go to a cancer society in their native New Zealand. So far they have raised $3,350.
Jony and Alistair celebrate with Luna after they both shaved their heads following their wedding ceremony
Jony and Alistair’s wedding ceremony had taken place at the Allely Estate in Kumeu. They are pictured walking back down the aisle
Luna is pictured in hospital during her treatment alongside her husband and two daughters
Alistair said that he wanted to join in with his wife’s gesture for her mother as a sign that cancer fighters are never alone in their journey, and that they will always have support.
Sadly, two months after their wedding, Luna passed away on January 12 2021, with the couple continuing to share their story to raise awareness.
Jony said: ‘We were so happy to see how happy and proud it made her. We didn’t really know what to expect but we were so happy in the moment.
Luna (centre) was diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer in 2018 and had been through surgery and chemotherapy. She is pictured with her two daughter
Jony is pictured with her mother Luna during her bachelorette party before the wedding
Alistair was the first to have his head shaved on the dance floor before the pair swapped round and he shaved Jony’s head
‘The responses were very unexpected, everyone at the wedding was crying and telling us how proud they were.
‘We have received donations from all around the world which was also very unexpected, and we are so grateful to those who have donated or offered words of support.’
Jony and Alistair have known each other since they were both five years old and went to school together. They started dating three years ago.
Alistair proposed to Jony on October 21 at Auckland’s Botanical Gardens after asking for Luna’s permission to marry her daughter.
Last November Jony told the New Zealand Herald her mother said she’d love to see the pair marry, often joking about it.
‘She would rather see it now rather than when it’s too late,’ Jony said.
You can donate here.