By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
MOST nine-year-old girls cherish their long hair and wouldn’t dare part with it, but Tara isn’t like most girls.
Life can throws up curve balls, even for nine year olds, and when Tara heard that her Grade 3 teacher was diagnosed with breast cancer, she saw the opportunity to use her hair for something more than worth it.
Before the end of the year Tara, from Berwick Primary School, will cut her very long hair and donate the ponytail to raise money for the Australian Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Trish Medlen, Tara’s mum, said the haircut idea came from a harmless comment she made to her daughter.
“Tara was very excited to have this teacher in Grade 3 and she asked me what she could do to help,” Ms Medlen said.
“So I said ‘why don’t you cut your hair?’”
The only stipulation Tara had for the haircut was for it to be held after her end-of-year dance concerts, where long hair was a bit of necessity, and she is now set to have the trim in early December.
“She’s never really had a haircut before so she has really long hair,” Ms Medlen said.
“As she was talking about it the more I realised she was serious. I told her that once you do something like this, you can’t back away from it.”
Tara has raised $200 so far for the foundation, through Facebook contact and donation boxes set up at Cathy Lea Dance in Narre Warren and Snap Fitness in Berwick.
Tara’s mum said she was so proud that her daughter was going through with the gesture.
“On some level I kind of thought she’d change her mind but she completely ran with it,” Ms Medlen said.
“She’s really excited and she’s preparing for her short hair.”
If you wish to donate to Tara’s cause, visit www.facebook.com/TarasLongLocks
