Esperance family join World's Greatest Shave
Three members of the Clarkson-Jones family are gearing up to farewell their locks in this year's World's Greatest Shave.
Jody Clarkson said taking part in the fundraiser had always been on her bucket list and when she shared her plans with her two youngest children Keeley, 10, and Vaughan 12, they were more than eager to take the plunge.
"I've always wanted to have a go at it and this year I talked to Keeley and she said she would do it with me and Vaughan said he would join in too," she said.
"A family that shaves together stays together is what I say!"
Ms Clarkson said after losing family members to cancer she knew personally the importance of supporting families through the difficult journey.
"Just $560 can support a family to stay in accommodation for a week while a parent or child is being treated, so they can all be there together," she said.
"It might be us one day, you just never know. So I think it is really good to be able to support people in anyway you can."
Trio get the chop: Keeley Clarkson-Jones,10, Jody Clarkson and Vaughan Clarkson-Jones, 12 will bid farewell to their locks on March 13 to raise money for the Leukemia Foundation's World's Greatest Shave. Photo: Sarah Makse.
Ms Clarkson and Keeley will chop their ponytails to create wigs for cancer patients and remaining shorter clippings will be used by Sustainable Salons to create 'hair booms' used to mop up ocean oil spills.
Keeley said she wasn't nervous about shaving her head and looked forward to a life without long locks.
"I am excited to get this stuff off my head, it is so annoying especially in summer when it is really hot, I just want it off my head," she said.
"I want to do it again in maybe four years, once it has grown back."
The selfless trio are already kicking their fundraising goal of $1,000 having raised more than half in just a few short days.
The money raised will contribute to the Leukemia Foundation's $16.5 million fundraising goal to help accelerate blood cancer research.
Mrs Clarkson said she had been blown away by the generosity of the community so far and hoped to increase their fundraising goal to support more families in the fight against blood cancer.
"Anybody can donate if they can, even $5 counts," she said.
Shave day is set for March 13, with local hairdresser Deb Garrett from Catwalk Curls volunteering to brandish the clippers in front of a lunchtime crowd at the Esperance Anglican Community School.
"We are all pretty excited to be holding it at Esperance Anglican Community School and have a bit of fun," Ms Clarkson said.
To support the fundraiser visit their World's Greatest Shave page.