SOME people probably thought she couldn't do it, but Greta Carey has reached and even exceeded all her expectations as part of this year's Leukaemia Foundation's World's Greatest Shave.
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The eighteen-year-old has raised the most amount of any individual in Victoria, a feat that has even surprised her.
This week her total stood at $23,220, also making it one of the top ten individual tallies in Australia.
"It's a bit surreal, I wanted to get the $20,000 but I didn't think I would raise that much," Greta said.
The death of her cousin from cancer at the age of 34 was one of the driving forces behind Greta's participation in this year's shave.
"I have always had long hair, but because I saw what my cousin went through having no hair, I just thought I would shave and donate my hair to start with and that was a big enough thing in itself," she said.
"I did my research and discovered that 31 people in Australia will be diagnosed with leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma every day and thought why not raise a bit of money along the way as well.
"My dad said he wasn't going to let me shave my hair off for $5,000 so I set a target of $20,000 and thought I'll see how I go."
Greta raised her first dollar outside Woolworths in Stawell, a place that she would return to a further four or five times to hold sausage sizzles.
"At the first one I raised about $300 and I was like 'wow, that's awesome' and then the next time I raised about $900, then $1,000," she said.
"People just kept coming back supporting me, donating their loose change from the supermarket and I was just so grateful."
Greta was also making scrunchies and jewellery which she was selling to friends and children at schools.
She was also babysitting with all the money she earned from that endeavour donated to the cause.
Greta's fundraising efforts reached their peak at the Stawell Gold Cup meeting at Easter when she braved the razor and all 93 centimetres of her hair was shed.
Along with the money raised, Greta's hair was put to good use, sectioned off into five pony tales and donated to Pantene Beautiful Lengths as wigs for women with cancer.
Greta said the most rewarding part of her fundraising experience was the knowledge that she has made a real difference to the lives of not just one, but many people with leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma.
"You realise you are helping out more than one person, especially in a rural area where the donations help to pay for accommodation and other vital services," she said.
"I work at a cafe and a few people that I didn't even realise had leukaemia or lymphoma have come up to me saying 'you don't realise how much you have helped me, the money you have raised is actually going towards me'."'
Greta's hair is now growing back, slower than she thought, but its present short length will serve as a reminder of her admirable fundraising achievement for a long time to come.
"Everyone has been saying 'you are so young, you have done such an amazing job already and you are only 18'," she said.
Greta, along with the other top 29 individuals have been invited to attend the Pumphouse Hotel in Fitzroy, Melbourne on June 18 where they will be formally recognised for their efforts.
The Leukaemia Foundation's World's Greatest Shave began back in 1998 and has since become one of Australia's biggest fundraising events.
People are sponsored to shave or colour their hair and raise funds to support people with blood cancer.
The money they raise is used to find life-saving treatments and provide free, emotional and practical support such as accommodation for regional families who need to move to the city for treatment.