When it comes to helping others, our kids have the biggest hearts.
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When Year 6 Parkes Public School student Araluen Fraser heard her 14-year-old friend, Rafe Bowman, had been diagnosed with brain cancer, she wanted to support him.
"I want to help make him better," she said.
And with hair as long as 58cm, she knew exactly what she could do.
On Monday - as Araluen's peers, teachers and family gathered in the school hall - she called on the assistance of Parkes Mayor Ken Keith OAM to make the honourary cut.
Cr Keith recited the first verse of the Banjo Paterson poem The Man from Ironbark - a poem that's about going to the barber's shop - and in six swift snips, Araluen held her long plaited locks in her hands.
It was a very selfless and brave move for an 11-year-old who's never had her hair cut, except for short trims.
Araluen said she was nervous and excited all in one about the haircut.
"I've been growing it almost my whole life," she said.
Qualified hairdresser Amanda Hetherington who also works at Parkes Shire Council, later arrived to style the 11-year-old's hair.
Araluen had initially set a goal of raising $200 for the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation but mum Raen Fraser said "I think we can do better than that".
That goal changed to $3000 and within moments after Araluen's haircut, she achieved that very target.
Her fundraising tally now stands at $3306, as of 1pm on Thursday.
Araluen's class mates were able to help her cause by making a gold coin donation on Monday or donating to her fundraising page on the My Cause website.
Cr Keith said Araluen picked an appropriate time to raise money and awareness for brain cancer research since it was "Beanies for Brain Cancer" week and many footy players and politicians were getting behind the campaign.
He also announced after cutting Araluen's hair that council was donating $100 to her cause.
Araluen's plaits will be donated to the Variety, The Children's Charity to be made into a wig for children who have lost their hair from cancer treatment.
Mum Raen said Araluen was already planning on growing her hair for another 11 years to have it cut again for the cause.
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