Locks shed for a bloody good cause

For some women, their hair is their pride and joy, but for one Hedland local, shaving it off was her way of helping those in need.

Goodline operations manager Jane Margaret Kennedy shaved her long locks last week in a bid to raise money for the Perth Blood Institute to help WA patients suffering from blood cancer.

“When my husband and I got married, we realised we didn’t really need anything, and money wise, we both have good jobs,” she said. “So I got to thinking that maybe we could use our wedding to do a bit of good.”

“I’ve had a half shaved head for about four years now, I’m getting married, turning 30 and I need to grow this style out somehow so I might as well shave it all off and raise some money while I’m at it.”

After talking to a co-worker who had previously been treated at Perth Blood Institute, Mrs Kennedy saw the opportunity to help those in need while keeping money within WA.

“I think it’s important for us to get the medical care over here in WA close to our family and friends.”

Dressed in her wedding gown in front of 50 co-workers, Mrs Kennedy’s hair was tied up, cut off and shaven by friends and her husband, Chris.

The supporting husband — who went against tradition and took his wife’s last name — helped with shaving Mrs Kennedy’s head while cracking a few jokes to their crowd of friends and said he admired what his wife was doing.

“I think she looks beautiful no matter what,” he said.

When asked about the significance of the wedding dress, Mrs Kennedy explained that two weeks earlier was her wedding day.

“We got married over east in Melbourne and not a lot of our friends could come to the wedding, so we thought it would be cool to get some wedding photos here at home, too, as well as sharing our promise of a shaved head,” she said.

“Everyone was expecting me to be in sequins and everything over the top because that’s my personality and usual style but I feel very proper and beautiful in this.”

At the time of the big shave, Mrs Kennedy had raised $13,500 and predicted the number to be closer to $20,000 by the end of the day.

Since the haircut her head “feels light” and she said she hopes it grows a bit for her sisters wedding in two months.