General News
23 August, 2023
The best way to lose a bet
MORTLAKE College student Ashton Maher is preparing to lose a four-year family bet to help raise funds for Cancer Council.
MORTLAKE College student Ashton Maher is preparing to lose a four-year family bet to help raise funds for Cancer Council.
The 16-year-old Succeed senior house captain has launched a fundraiser in the hopes of raising $500 before he cuts his hair short in front of friends and family on Daffodil Day (Thursday, August 31).
At the time of publication, he has already surpassed $1800 towards the cause.
Ashton said he got the idea from his mother after she learned about Cancer Council’s Ponytail Project, which encouraged people to grow their hair for a year before cutting off their ponytail to raise funds.
After fellow students and Mortlake College staff suggested Cancer Council would be a good choice for a fundraiser, which is branded in the same yellow colour as his school house, he knew it would be a good fit.
“As a senior house captain it’s part of my job to organise our house fundraiser, and I had people suggest Cancer Council would be a really good option,” he said.
“I thought it could mesh really well together.”
Furthering the connection with a cancer fundraiser is Ashton’s lengthy hair, which he has been growing out for the past four years in a bet against his uncle.
“Right after our school production of Big Fish he bet me $20 I wouldn’t cut my hair,”
“He hasn’t cut his hair either, so the first to do it has to pay the other.”
The opportunity to raise funds for Cancer Council is important to Ashton, knowing how many people are impacted by the disease.
It is estimated over 1 million Australians are living with or beyond cancer, with almost half of Australians being diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85.
“It’s something important to me,” Ashton said.
“I have friends and family who have been impacted by cancer in one way or another.
“Lots of people have.”
Ashton encouraged the community to throw their support behind the worthy cause as Cancer Council seeks to help improve the lives of those doing it tough with a disease all too common.
“All the work Cancer Council does is wonderful,” he said.
“It’s not only raising funds for research, it’s also providing essential support for people who are struggling with a cancer diagnosis.
“There is so much they do.”
Ashton acknowledged he was a little nervous to have his hair cut short in front of Mortlake College students and staff at a whole school assembly next week but was also excited to have the support of his school and family, who will be in attendance.
The fundraiser will follow on from previous student initiatives this year including a push-up challenge which raised over $350 for mental health and a Fight MND (Motor Neurone Disease) fundraiser organised by Inspire house captains.
Mortlake College principal Sean Fitzpatrick said the leadership qualities and selfless desire to help others displayed by Mortlake College students never ceases to amaze.
“I think sometimes my opinion is leadership is turning up,” he said.
“Ashton is another example of turning up, and another example of the many students we have who are willing to do that.”
To donate to Ashton’s fundraiser visit https://fundraising.cancervic.org.au/fundraisers/ashtonmaher.
