Beck, left, and Hannah show off their new short styles. 48673
By Casey Neill
MOUNT Evelyn teen Hannah McCann has a chilly winter ahead of her.
The 19-year-old, Beck Mitchell, 22, and Nat Haraida, 25, shed their long locks to save children from slavery.
The trio have so far raised more than $600 in support of People’s Recovery, Empowerment Development Assistance Foundation (PREDA).
One of their Bridge Builders colleagues, Adam Kelly, will join PREDA during June to help free children working in the sex trade and other forms of slavery.
“There are more people in slavery now than ever before,” Ms Mitchell said.
“And this is something that our generation needs to put a stop to.”
Mr Kelly needed to raise cash for the mission so a Bridge Builders team completing a leadership program came up with fund-raising ideas.
“We figured hair – it grows back. These kids only get a once in a lifetime chance to be saved from something like this,” Ms McCann said.
“Yes, I’m going to be bald. Yes, it’s winter and it’s going to be cold, but the fact that I’m helping someone is so astronomically greater than the loss of my hair.”
“I would do anything to help these kids. It’s so inhumane that if I can help stop it, I will.”
They asked family and friends to make the first cuts on 7 June.
“We made Beck go first because there were suspicions she might wimp out and bolt out the door,” Ms McCann said.
Ms Mitchell said: “I was always going to go through with it, but the thought of losing my hair was freaking me out a little bit.”
“Mine was probably the longest so I was a little bit attached.”
The shave almost brought her to tears.
“It was when it was half-half and they pulled up a mirror,” she said.
“I put my hand up on my head and could feel there was nothing there.”
But she’s now loving her new look
“I kind of like the short cut. There’s no management,” Ms Mitchell said.
“When you look in the mirror you can’t recognise yourself. You forget that you’re bald.”
“But it’s all for a good cause.”
Readers can visit their Facebook page, ‘Shave for Slaves’, to make a donation online, drop off a cash donation at Bridge Builders, 231 Main Street, Lilydale, or call Beck on 9038 8818.
