Yes, I am shaving my hair off.  I am wanting to make a difference by making 2 negative situations into positive action. 

1. I have had long hair all my life, but I have been battling female pattern hair loss (alopecia) for many years. I've been wearing my hair up to keep my "comb over" at least partly controlled.  I do feel that I am backed into a corner on this because it is socially unacceptable for women to go bald, I have tried some treatment, but although it slowed down my hair loss, it wasn't going to reverse it. On one level I am shaving my head to avoid further paranoia about who is noticing, but at the same time, I feel a certain amount of empowerment. Now its time to own up to my humanness and frailty. 

2. I have decided to turn this event into support for asylum seekers and refugees through the ASRC. I have always had a heart for those seeking refuge. While we have improved our care with the current government, there are still people living in our community for over 10 years that have no medicare, no centrelink payment, and also aren't allowed to work, making them rely solely on charity. Please, lets help the ASRC continue the great job they do!

Together, lets make a negative into a positive.