Nurse loses locks for leukaemia cause

Lisa Connell has raised almost $1700 to benefit people living with leukaemia and research into blood cancers by having a rather special haircut.

Ms Connell was inspired to crop her almost waist-length hair to a short pixie cut to help raise awareness of leukaemia after a child she knew of had the blood disease.

It took the registered nurse a couple of years to feel brave enough to lose her locks but she has no regrets after having her hair cut short earlier this month.

“I’ve wanted to do it for a couple of years but haven’t had the courage,” Ms Connell said.

“My kids were at school with a little girl diagnosed with leukaemia and I wanted to help raise awareness and donations. I just thought I’d give it a go. My family and I are blessed with good health and I thought there was something I could do to help others.”

In just two weeks, Ms Connell raised $1658 in donations for the Leukaemia Foundation World’s Greatest Shave.

She said the tally was because of excellent support from her work colleagues and a hairdresser friend who promoted her campaign and made donations.

The nurse said she was passionate about good healthcare and happy to help raise awareness of a devastating disease.

“Leukaemia can happen to anyone at any time so the more money we can raise for research to find cures will benefit everyone,” she said.

Family and friends watched on as hairdresser Kelly Singleton cut Ms Connell’s hair at Elementz Hair Studio on March 12.

The hair will be donated to a wig maker.

For more information about leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related blood disorders, or to donate, visit www.leukaemia.org.au.