By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
WHEN her best friend Zoe lost her mother to cancer in 2012, Chelsey Castle always wanted to do more than put a reassuring hand on a mate’s shoulder.
With that thought burning in her mind, 17-year-old Chelsey has decided to not only cut her hair for the World’s Greatest Shave, but also to organise a night market fund-raiser at the St Michael’s hall in Berwick tomorrow (Friday 28 February).
While Chelsey has in the past shown a penchant for fund-raising, she admits that cutting her hair will be a first.
“I’ve done things like the Relay for Life but never something like this,” she said.
“I’ve been wanting to do it for quite a while and putting on the market was an extra boost.”
The Narre Warren South teenager said she had held back from cutting her hair in past years after advice from her mother, but now she felt that she was ready.
“I’m going to cut my hair on Saturday 15 March and I’ve had a few friends already tell me they want to shave their hair with me,” Chelsey said.
“At first, Mum was a little bit reluctant, but she found out I was keen to do it again and now that I was in Year 12 she felt it would be a good time.
“In the past, she warned me that for a girl, hair is a big deal. Mum just wanted to wait until I had matured a bit.”
Chelsey, who has set a combined fund-raising target of $3000, hoped others would be inspired by her act of selflessness and see it as an opportunity to give their time to someone else in need.
Martin Castle, Chelsey’s dad, said he was extremely proud of his daughter’s initiative and would be helping out at the market stalls with her mum, Lorraine. A range of items will be up for sale at the market, including fragrances, cakes, chocolates and beauty products.
Chelsey’s market will be held at the hall at St Michael’s on Friday 28 February from 7pm to 9.30pm.
For more information visit http://my.leukamiafoundation.org.au/chelseycastle
