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Incurable cancer can't keep student down

Taking on a university degree is challenging enough, but John Maunder fits his study around chemotherapy.

The Brisbane medical student, struck down with blood cancer, is going to extraordinary lengths to find a cure for the disease.

His story has touched more than 500 supporters from across Queensland who've donated to his appeal.

"I'm sick for four days of every fortnight so I’m just running on massively reduced time," he said.

The 21-year-old's life changed in December last year. It started with a lump in his leg.

"He said, there's a 99.9 per cent chance that this is nothing," he said.

Against the odds, it was a rare, incurable blood cancer.

"My type of cancer, I can only get it into remission and it will come back."

John and his friends are on a mission to find a cure with the help of an online fundraising page, which has raised more than $40,000.

The money will go to the Leukaemia Foundation. Team Maunder has agreed to shave their heads in return.

"I didn't even think twice about jumping on board and helping him out," one supporter said.

Team Maunder will face the hair clippers at the Regatta Hotel on Friday afternoon.

They're hoping the shave will help John reach his fundraising target of $60,000.

"Obviously I can't shave my head. There's not really much there to shave. So I’ve got a mullet wig that I’m going to wear to Uni," John said.

Help John and his team reach their target