Hats off … and hair as well … to 10-year-old Byron Humphry who raised over $11,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave on the weekend.
His extraordinary mullet was carefully cut off, and donated to Wigs4Kids, before he had his head shaved.
He was joined by five local men who also had their heads shaved: Ian Glass, Sean McWilliams, Jack Underwood, and Byron’s Uncle Malcolm Anderson and dad Kirk Humphry.
Kirk said he decided to be part of the Greatest Shave to support his son and originally he and Byron were going to get a number four.
But when family friends Tania and Tim from Berwick Motors offered to donate an extra $1000 – or $500 each if they went “to the skin”, they both went all in.
Kirk said the family had several relatives battling cancer, as well as friends, so the decision to raise funds for cancer research was a personal one.
“I’ve lost four friends, all under 50 to cancer, and they’ve left kids behind,” he said.
For mum Tammy, it was an incredibly proud and emotional afternoon, especially when the big moment came.
“I was a mess. I was so proud, I started crying,” she said. “Then when Byron saw me crying, he cried.
“One of the guys came up to me later and said you had all us blokes crying. There was hardly a dry eye in the house.”
Fundraising
Prior to the event, Bryon’s online fundraiser with the World’s Greatest Shave had raised $4060.
Then on the day, thanks to a power of work from Tammy and the generous support of local businesses and the community, another $7714 was raised.
As well as donations, on the day there were raffles and a silent auction, thanks to the support of local business: Nici Cahill Massage, Phillip Island Winery, Westernport Hotel, Island Equipment Hire, Always Cool Airconditioning, Marios, The Wash Shop, The Wooli Tavern, Latitude Trading, Silverwater Resort, Cape Winds, The Middle Hotel Korumburra, San Remo Fisherman’s Co-op, Beand, Gippsland Coffee Roasters, Bass Strait Direct and the San Remo Butcher.
“Thanks also to the San Remo Hotel for hosting us on the day,” Tammy said.
Money was also raised by “auctioning off” the other head shavers.
MC on the day was Daniel May, whose daughter is in the same class as Byron at Newhaven College, while local musicians The Laing Brothers entertained the crowd.
You can still donate to the fundraising effort through Byron’s World’s Greatest Shave fundraising page.