By KATIE DE VERTEUIL
NOOSA’S Eliza Stewart will be looking a little different come November, when she shaves off her beautiful long locks to raise funds for the Leukaemia Foundation.
Aged 16, Eliza was inspired to participate in the World’s Greatest Shave by fellow classmates who shaved last year and she hopes that her sacrifice will draw just as much attention to the worthy cause.
“A guy at school shaved his head for a cure and there was such an overwhelming response,” Eliza said.
“A few family members have battled breast cancer and there are not many people I know who haven’t been affected by cancer in some way or know someone who has.
“Cancer impacts so many people and it’s just so devastating.
“Being a girl with long hair, the shave will be even more shocking to people so I am hoping that it will be effective in raising money and awareness for the Leukaemia Foundation.”
Eliza will be shaving her head on 30 November and hopes to raise $5000 by this time.
Having only just begun her fund-raising, Eliza has already raised over $100 through donations made at Elvis’s Cafe, Noosaville, where she works.
“I believe in life we are presented with opportunities to better the world – some are big, while others small,” Eliza said.
“Hair – it’s such a strange thing to hold on to really. It’ll be something easy to sacrifice to help over 60,000 people in Australia that have been diagnosed with leukaemia.”
It will certainly take the teenager less time in the shower and allow for significant savings on shampoo over the summer months.
And her long locks will not go to waste, as they will also be donated to the foundation to be turned into wigs.
To support Eliza drop by Elvis’s Cafe, Noosaville or donate online at secure.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/registrant/donate.aspx?eventid=12851&langpref=en-CA&SPID=3230788&Referrer=https%3a%2f%2fsecure.leukaemiafoundation.org.au%2fregistrant%2fFundraisingPage.aspx%3fregistrationID%3d586050%26langPref%3den-CA .
