Highlights for Hope is well on track as it cuts its path through more than hair and we mark the middle of October and Mental Health Month.
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There are just two weeks left to raise the much-needed funds required to keep the doors open at Wollongong's Light and Hope Clubhouse for people with mental health issues.
We are seeing an inspirational response to Highlights for Hope from across the community with high-profile business men and women, sporting celebrities, tweenies, beauties and plenty of beasts all getting into the spirit of the Illawarra and having fun at the Highlight for Hope salons.
It has been heartening to say the least, to see, hear and feel the extraordinary support from all corners of the community, none less than the crew from the NSW Fire and Rescue Wollongong Station.
Natalie Taylor, proprietor of Artique Hair in Figtree and married to firie Justin, set Highlights for Hope on fire last week when she took on eight firies and dedicated a whole day in her salon to the shaving, pattern tracking and colouring of all their hair.
Her staff were all involved in the transformation that took place ready for the shoot the next day. I was speechless when I stepped into the salon and the overpowering crowd of big boys in their boots and fire gear, topped off with an explosion of crazy hair cuts, scalp art and colour en mass.
The salon was buzzing with fun and frivolity and an overwhelming statement of support for this important cause. The smiles and mischief in the eyes of the crew was uplifting and as I chatted to them, it was so evident that the sky was the limit to their demonstration of support for Natalie and her quest to show support for Highlights for Hope.
Congratulations to Natalie Taylor, her staff and the beautiful beasts with hairdos who, on completion, also made a generous donation through our website, www.highlightsforhope.org.au
Station Officer Andrew Barber was open in saying: "The boys and I have seen many of our own affected by mental health as a direct result of the trauma they experience in their work all too often.
"It is a typical example of how trauma or a crisis in someone's life will trigger the onset of a mental condition that is often ongoing. We would love to support this cause every year."
Also forging a colourful set of tracks in support of Highlights for Hope is James Hogg, IOH managing director of IOH and secretary for Light and Hope.
Affectionately known to his Facebook mates as Hogg, he went the "full hog", challenging me to feature the Light and Hope Logo, a lighthouse with beams of light tracked into his hair and coloured authentically with the green and blue. A visit to his salon, the Fox and the Hair was on. After the lighthouse and light beams were tracked into the hair, the colouring process began. Mia and her team worked with me to complete the colour process and James liked what he saw. Facebook has been alight with the Hogg's salon experience at the Fox and the Hair.
All good fun - and a colourful way to draw attention to the Highlights for Hope campaign, but then again, it could just be that "boys just wanna have fun!"