SUDBURY -- Karen Falldien-Yawney began raising funds for Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer (NOFCC) back in July.

She said she was going to shave her head in support of children battling cancer, and that day has come.

"I chose NOFCC because of a close family friend whose son has been battling leukaemia and they are very much involved with NOFCC," said Falldien-Yawney.

Falldien-Yawney had a goal to raise $10,000 and after only a few short months she surpassed her original goal by raising $16,560.

"There’s no words really how supportive everyone has been, family, friends and perfect strangers for that matter," said Falldien-Yawney.

"These difficult times has affected everyone, but it really affects the families with children with cancer."

Karen Falldien-Yawney

Karen Falldien-Yawney said she was going to shave her head in support of children battling cancer, and that day has come. Sept. 27/20 (Molly Frommer/CTV News Northern Ontario)

Dayna Caruso is the NOFCC executive director and she says all proceeds raised will go towards alleviating the financial burden that families face.

"Things like parking accommodations, taxies, to help offset some of the costs that these families have, replace some of the income that they are loosing because of course they can’t work when their children are going through cancer and they are travelling across Ontario for treatment," said Caruso.

Caruso says receiving this kind of money at a time like this crucial.

"We’ve already seen about 2/3 of our budget for the year disappear due to the annual fundraisers that have been cancelled," said Caruso.

"So to receive funding like this at a time like this is, is vital to making sure we can survive, and we can keep our doors open."

Falldien-Yawney says she is very grateful for all the donations and says there’s always a possibility she may do this again in the future.