By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
TAHLIA held her detached pony tail in two hands and beamed at the camera.
The 14-year-old couldn’t be happier that she had followed through on her goal of cutting off her luscious longs locks and is now able to donate the hair to the Australia Alopecia Areata Foundation (AAAF).
Her mother, Janelle Kramer, said it was her daughter’s sensitivity that spurred her to go through with the significant haircut, which saw 50 centimetres of her hair cut loose from her head.
“Two to three years ago my daughter saw an article in the Berwick News about a girl who donated her hair to the Alopecia Foundation and she came back to me and said she wanted to do it,” Janelle said.
“I think she’s very sensitive to others, and she just thought of someone not having their own hair.
“She’s had long hair her whole life and has been able to do her own hair for six to seven years, and she wanted to put herself in someone else’s shoes.”
Tahlia has also raised $260 so far for the cause, which will be sent to the foundation along with her hair.
The AAAF, founded in 2010, is the national Australia body which supports research to find a cure for all forms of alopecia areata.
Its committee is made up of a group of dedicated individuals, some who work full-time and others who run their own businesses.
“We haven’t sent her hair off just yet, it will be sent to the Alopecia Foundation and then they send it on to the people that make wigs for young people,” Janelle said.
“There’s a whole different range of wigs to choose from.”
Tahlia’s mum said there was no trepidation when it came time for her daughter to go through with the haircut, instead she was utterly impressed by the 14-year-old’s determination.
It’s the type of determination which has even inspired Tahlia’s younger sister to cut her hair for the benefit of others.
“Her little sister, Tanaya, who’s just turned eight, said she wants to do it,” Janelle said.
“In some ways Tahlia will always be doing something for others like that, whether it be with her hair or helping in some other way.”
For more information and to donate to Tahlia’s cause, visit personalchallenge.gofundraise.com.au/page/htgt.
