HORSHAM’S Alison Briggs-Miller lopped off 12.7 metres of her locks and raised more than $1000 for cancer research in the process on Friday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Wimmera Uniting Care employee said goodbye to her dreadlocks and hello to a number-four shave to raise money for the organisation’s Relay For Life team.
The shave was completed on the final day of Paint the Town Purple – the official launch of the 2015 Horsham and Districts Relay For Life.
A crowd of employees gathered to support Mrs Briggs-Miller and to bid on cutting off the dreadlocks.
Louise Netherway took first honours, donating $50 to the team to start the process.
The crowd cheered after the final shave.
Mrs Briggs-Miller said she felt strange but happy with the new cut.
Her fear that young daughter Veda wouldn’t recognise her with short hair was unfounded.
Veda ran up to her mother part-way through the shave and offered her one of the chopped dreads.
“I feel really good,’’ Mrs Briggs-Miller said.
“It’ll grow back and then I’ll decide what length I like it at.’’
Husband Michael Briggs was one of Mrs Briggs-Miller’s many supporters at Wimmera Trade Training Centre for the shave.
He said he was surprised when she first mentioned losing the dreads.
“She’s put a lot of work into them for five years,’’ he said.
But the importance of the cause was enough to convince the couple it was the right thing to do.
“We’ve had a fair few friends have cancer impact them quite significantly,’’ Mr Briggs said.
He was the first to congratulate his wife when the last dreadlock came off.
Colleague Justin Amor encouraged people to support the Wimmera Uniting Care Horsham and Districts Relay For Life team at the event.
A barbecue and guessing games contributed to the donations for Mrs Briggs-Miller.
One competition included guessing the length of the dreadlocks in a line - 12.7 metres.
Mr Amor said Friday’s event helped raise more than $1000, bringing the team’s fundraising close to $3000.
“This is already more that we raised in total last year,’’ he said.
He said the team aimed to raise more than $5000 by the 2015 relay.
The Horsham and Districts Relay For Life is at Coughlin Park in Horsham on March 13 and 14.
