When Jamisontown resident Alexander Hale was just 10-years-old, he decided to start growing his hair in the hope to one day donate it to Wigs for Kids.
Now, four years on and with hair down to his shoulder blades, the 14-year-old is raising money for the Leukemia Foundation as he sets out to shave his head in front of his peers at Jamison High School.
It hasn’t been the easiest of journeys, as Alexander said before the man bun phenomenon he did receive flack for his long locks.
“I got a lot of comments about looking like a girl but people can say what they want, I know I’m doing it for a good cause,” he said.
“I just hope it shows people that they can make a difference as well, anyone can do it and at the end of the day it’s just hair.”
When Alexander reached Year 7, he was inspired by other kids at his high school who took part in their World’s Greatest Shave assembly.
It was then that he decided he wanted to do both, chop off his ponytail for Wigs for Kids and shave his head for the Leukemia Foundation.
“Kids watch a lot of TV, seeing other kids in hospital and I think everyone’s always got a cancer story. He’s a really inquisitive kid, an old soul, so I don’t really know why he wanted to do it but we are just so proud of him for sticking it out,” Alexander’s mum Amber Thomas said.
“We asked him at the end of last year if he was still going to go through with it and he said yes. He’s been adamant and stuck through it despite copping a lot of flack about it over the years.”
Last Sunday Alexander set up his donation page and within days it had already reached half of his $1500 goal. He’s now less than $200 away.
Alexander will take up the brave challenge on Wednesday, March 13.
To donate, visit bit.ly/2HFgFIa.
Nicola Barton
A graduate of Western Sydney University, Nicola Barton is a news journalist with the Western Weekender, primarily covering crime and politics.