NINE years’ growth of hair has got to be worth something.
In one Kerang man’s case, it’s already worth $10,000 towards the fight against cancer.
Now Tim Pleasance has set himself a new target – another $5000 – before he submits his lengthy dreadlocks to the clippers this weekend.
Such is the challenge of removing his locks – and the number of people wanting to carry out the task – that Mr Pleasance is now intent on embarking on an auction to raise even more money by seeking bids for the privilege of cutting his hair.
He started growing his hair when he left high school at the age of 16 because he thought it “looked cool”.
It was a case of teasing and back-combing and at least six months before it was long enough to make a knot set.
The 26-year-old said that he reached his $10,000 fund-raising target for the Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave two weeks ago, so set his sights on another $5000.
“Businesses have kicked in with donations of goods for an auction and people have been very generous with donations,” he said.
“They’ve made me feel really good about doing this.”
The cause received a secondary boost last Friday night, with an event at the Mystic Park Hotel adding $1400 to the cause.
Frank Hughes organised the event, with Lake Charm Landcare donating proceeds of its fortnightly meat raffle and the Lions Club of Lake Charm-Mystic Park adding its proceeds of its previous week’s meat raffle to bring the figure raised to $12,250.
Meanwhile, the planned “Tim sheds the dreads” shave has become quite an event with another local with dreadlocks, Jake Rollinson also planning to submit to the clippers and others pledging to lose their beards and some opting for added colour.
The function starts at the K-Bar function centre in Wellington Street at 2pm on Sunday, with the shave starting at 6.30pm.
There will be face painting, temporary tattoos, a jumping castle, live auction, raffles and performances by Swan Hill band, Killer Queens, and local Kerang duo, Half Cut playing throughout the afternoon and Murray Mallee Wood Fired Pizzas providing food.
