Young duo inspire with locks of encouragement

TWO youngsters have bravely stepped up and had their hair cut off to raise $3750 for Barwon Health’s Andrew Love Cancer Centre.

Luke Blackley, 12, and Amber Towart, 13, had the chop recently to raise awareness for those doing it tough with cancer.

Amber had 30cm of hair lopped off, which was then donated to Real Fringe Hair Bands. It’s the third time Amber has had her hair cut for charity.

Luke’s fundraising efforts come after his dad, Michael, was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in 2016. Given just a month to live, Mr Blackley was matched to a drug that had been through clinical trials and is now providing him with quality of life.

Luke, a school captain at Bannockburn’s St Mary MacKillop Primary School, said he shaved his head to recognise all the people who had suffered and lost their hair to cancer.

Luke’s mum, Christine, established the Geelong arm of Camp4Cancer, which had to cancel a March fundraising event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mrs Blackley said there were still plans to hold a camping fundraiser when pandemic restrictions ease.