By Natasha Fujimoto
BRAVE, selfless and determined, Lorraine Liverton is one local lady with a big heart. Like so many humble individuals who quietly put others before themselves, she is about to do something most of us would baulk at. Lorraine is going cut off all her hair in support of children who experience hair loss due to illness and medical conditions.
On Saturday, November 7, Lorraine will take part in a fundraising event for Variety – the Children’s Charity, donating her hair to help create wigs for children who have lost their own due to conditions such as cancer and alopecia.
Inspiration to support this charity came to Lorraine following an illness experienced by a close friend and a heart-rending story in the media.
“A friend of mine had to have her hair cut off before major surgery, and she asked me what I was going to do with my hair,” Lorraine said.
“Then I saw a story about a young girl who was being bullied because she had no hair. That really stayed with me.”
Propelled to look into organisations needing hair donations, Lorraine soon discovered Variety’s Hair with Heart Program, which provides natural-hair wigs for children experiencing hair loss.
“A child needs to feel good about themselves and have confidence,” she said. “If I can make a difference to even one child, then it’s worth doing.”
According to Lorraine, natural-hair wigs can cost thousands of dollars, with children often requiring more than one wig as they grow. It can take between 15 and 20 ponytails of donated hair to create a single wig.
The fundraising event will be held at the Kyabram Club from 6pm, featuring a meal, dessert, raffles, auctions and lucky door prizes. One of the major auction items is a signed Greater Western Sydney Giants guernsey from AFL player Lachie Ash, framed with the generous support of McKellars Picture Framing in Corio Street Shepparton.
Lorraine is also calling on local businesses and community members to donate prizes to help boost fundraising efforts.
Tickets are $40 and are available now, with sales closing on Friday, October 30.
For ticket information, prize donations or to support the fundraiser, contact Lorraine Liverton directly on 0457 159 725.
