SHAVING her waist-length hair off doesn't bother 17-year-old Bronte O'Brien, because she knows she's one of the lucky ones.... her hair will grow back.
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The Year 11 student is just one of a number of students from Bathurst High, who will go under the razor on Thursday, August 13, raising much needed funds for the World's Greatest Shave, which helps fund blood cancer research and supports those living with it.
It's a cause close to her heart. In 2015, Bronte's mum passed away from cancer.
Two years later, in 2017, wanting to help others Bronte had her hair cut off and donated it for a wig.
This year she's not only shaving and donating her hair, but set a fundraising goal of $2,000 to help support the World's Greatest Shave.
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With the support of family and friends, she has already surpassed the $2,000 and is now hoping to make it $3,000.
"It would be amazing if we could break $3,000, this is such an amazing cause," she said.
She said she was participating to honour the memory of her mum.
"My mum passed away from cancer back in 2015, which is why I first donated my hair in 2017. I knew that if my Mum had lost her hair and required a wig to be made, then I would have given her mine.
"I want to help young people living with cancer to feel like themselves again by having hair, but also to help cover costs for medical treatment and staying in hospitals as I know how difficult this was for my own family".
She said she was nervous about shaving her hair when she signed up in march, but felt okay now.
"I was more nervous when I first signed up compared to now. I am excited and proud to raise this money and awareness of such an important cause.
"I know that my hair will grow back, others won't," she said.
Every day 41 Australians are told they have blood cancer, that is one person every 36 minutes, and sadly 20 people will lose their life to blood cancer daily.
By the year 2035 approximately 100 Australians will be diagnosed with blood cancer every day (one person every 14 minutes) and 40 people will lose their life to it.
"Those figures will be more than double what they are today," she said.
"In 2017 I cut off 25cm of my hair to donate in memory of my beautiful mother. I've now decided I can't just be a Half-job-Harry, so I'm going to donate my hair again as well as shaving it all off.
"So please donate, because anything and everything helps," she said.
Those wanting to donate can do so at Bronte's World's Greatest Shave page http://my.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/bronteobrien
.
