Perth boy Daniel White will be joining a number of generous Australians giving up their locks to raise money for the Leaukaemia Foundation in the World’s Greatest Shave next week.
White’s motivations for joining the cause aren’t just charitable, but personal. He’s entering in memory of his ex-boyfriend Andrew Lidgard, who passed away from the disease last year.
“It’s coming up to one year since his passing. So he actually died August the second, and so this time last year we actually planned to go on a three week cruise, and because of this we weren’t actually able to do it. So he stayed here as I went to my mother’s wedding, and this year I thought ‘I’ll do something to remember him by.’”
Although a lot of World’s Greatest Shave participants will be getting varying degrees of follicle modification, White says he’s going all the way.
“I’m going to do the full shave, number one. It’s the first time I’ve done anything like that with my hair, I’ve always got like a fringe and everything going, so it’ll be very interesting. I’m going to buy a beanie and cover it up. ” he laughs.
White has already nearly doubled his intended fundraising goal.
“I’m actually really excited. Originally I was just going for $500. I thought if everyone on my Facebook gave like a dollar, then that would be more than enough, like everyone would chip in, but everyone’s been giving way, way more than I actually expected so, I’m really happy with how it’s gone so far.”
White will be going under the clippers on Friday, and hopes the success will continue. “I was just happy that I made the goal, I didn’t expect it to reach so far as it has, so everything from here is just amazing. It’s all for a good cause, so every dollar pretty much goes to helping someone is how I see it and I think giving back to humanity is important.”
You can donate to Daniel White’s campaign here.
Sophie Joske
