Francine Sammut died in 2018, about nine years after she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. Tegan, a year eight student from Orange High School, said raising awareness of this disease was very important to her.

"I have first hand experience of a loved one passing due to cancer and we really want to share awareness and support to those who have been affected by blood cancer or know someone who has," she said.

"Not only will I be shaving and donating all my hair, but I will be doing it alongside many other generous, amazing people who I am honoured to be sharing this experience with.

"This whole idea started off when my mum and dad shaved their hair a couple of years ago, which inspired me to do the same, but with a charity involved."

Her dad, Brett Sammut, said Tegan was a bit apprehensive at first, but has gained an immense amount of confidence after raising more than $2000.

"The first goal was $750 and she raised that the first day. She then spoke to the young girl who is organising it and upped it to $1000, then $1500 and now $2000," he said.

"$2000 was way beyond even her wildest dreams but I think it's made her a lot more confident knowing that she has the support from her friends and family and that she can do it and that now that it has made a bit of a difference."

But money wasn't the main reason Tegan started this, with her dad adding that raising awareness has always been the crux of the idea.

"Seeing that money come in, she's really confident that people are supporting her idea and it's not just a young girl doing it for attention," he said.

"People are recognising that she's doing this for her mum's legacy and also to help other women who are either without hair through chemotherapy or any other means.

"It's more her friends who are donating the money, they're throwing a few dollars here or there which is nice because they probably didn't know Tegan's mum so it's nice to know they're supporting her.

"It's been good having that generation of young kids as well as friends of Francine donate."

Search 'support Tegan as she braves the shave for cancer' on www.GoFundMe.com to donate.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: