Hair-raising gesture for sick kids

It has taken four years for Fletcher Middleton to grow his tumbling tresses, so when his mum Lauren decided it was time to cut them off, she searched for a way to put them to good use.

She came across the Kids with Cancer Foundation’s Wigs 4 Kids campaign and knew she had found the right cause.

A date has been set and fundraising efforts have begun, with $5000 the target.

Lauren says she’s seen children having treatment for cancer, while at the hospital with her own children or when visiting friends’ children who were unwell.

“As a parent, I can’t think of anything worse,” she says.

Fletcher, of Newport, says he wants a haircut similar to older brother Harlem, 7.

“When I chop off my hair, it’s going to be super cool,” he says.

“He’s very excited. It will be different for him, but I think he’ll like it,” Lauren says.

She says Fletcher had a trim, when he was eight months old, but has not had his hair cut since.

Big moment

He will have his first proper haircut on October 1 during an event in the carpark at Kids Capers Childcare at Scarborough, where he goes to kindergarten.

It will be cut by Louise Retchless, from The Texture Crew salon and sent to Ella Wig Makers in New South Wales, where it will be fashioned into a wig for a child.

The event will include a sausage sizzle, face painting and a raffle.

Lauren is hoping the money raised will give Fletcher’s total a significant boost.

“People have been really supportive. I mentioned it and they’ve said how can we get behind it, we’ll do some fundraising. I’ve been shocked that everyone’s really getting behind it,” she says.

So far, they have raised just over $1000.

If you would like to donate, visit fundraise.kidswithcancer.org.au/fundraisers/laurenbloxham