Hair today, gone tomorrow.
Lauren Abela, 14, is sporting a new shoulder-length ‘do’ after chopping off 30 centimetres of her long locks for charity.
The Deer Park resident, whose hair had previously reached her lower back, will give her strands to Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths campaign, which will use the hair to create real-hair wigs for women with cancer.
“I decided to cut my hair because I realised that if I could help people going through the terrible [cancer] fight in any way, I would,” Lauren said.
“I really feel sorry for people who were unfortunate enough to get cancer.”
Lauren first considered shaving all of her hair off then decided to cut off a considerable length instead.
“It was scary [when I got it cut off] because I’ve been used to it being long for so long, but I’ve got used to it now.
“I feel good that I helped, because at my age there’s not many ways that you can help people with cancer, so cutting my hair was one way I could.
“I didn’t tell my friends until I had already done it. I just showed up at school with my new hair, and they were very shocked that I’d done it.
“I didn’t do this for recognition, I did it to help people.”
Her mum Michelle added: “I hesitated, I didn’t want her to do it at first … but after she had, I felt really good about it, too, because she’s helped people.
“Hopefully, this raises awareness. I don’t know if many people know that they can donate their hair.”
To donate your hair, go to www.beautifullengths.com.au
