Leon and Jemima bring the World’s Greatest Shave to Narrabri

A crowd gathered at the Tourist Hotel on Friday night to cheer on Jemima Merritt and Leon Cunningham who were taking part in the World’s Greatest Shave.

The charity fundraiser involves people of all ages “channelling their inner superhero” and shaving, waxing or colouring their hair to raise money for the Leukemia Foundation.

Leon said it was Jemima’s idea for the couple to shave off their luscious locks to make some money for a worthy cause.

“Jem was doing it and I thought I may as well do it too and raise a bit of money,” said Leon.

Leon said Boggabri barber, ‘Mad Dog’ Gillham was given the honour of shaving their heads.

Leon Cunningham and Jemima Merritt before the headshave. Leon Cunningham and Jemima Merritt before the headshave.

Leon Cunningham and Jemima Merritt freshly shaven at their World’s Greatest Shave event at the Tourist Hotel last Friday. Leon Cunningham and Jemima Merritt freshly shaven at their World’s Greatest Shave event at the Tourist Hotel last Friday.

Chris, Sally and Don Cunningham. Chris, Sally and Don Cunningham

Andrew Coleman, Ella Tomlinson and Claudia Penberthy. Andrew Coleman, Ella Tomlinson and Claudia Penberthy.

Maddie Russell and Charlotte Penberthy. Maddie Russell and Charlotte Penberthy.

Phil Nipperess and Rose Davies. Phil Nipperess and Rose Davies.

Jono Druce and Hayley Lang. Jono Druce and Hayley Lang.

Rod Hall and Ben Penberthy. Rod Hall and Ben Penberthy.

Back, Pete Calsena and Jackson Mudford, front, Ash Smith and Kymberlea Arnold. Back, Pete Calsena and Jackson Mudford, front, Ash Smith and Kymberlea Arnold.

Zoe Saunders and Ashley and Zander Kneale. Zoe Saunders and Ashley and Zander Kneale.

Debbie Richardson, Ros McInnes and Emma Whitton. Debbie Richardson, Ros McInnes and Emma Whitton.

Steve Dalton, Andrew Leslie, Glen Tomlinson and Richard Whan. Steve Dalton, Andrew Leslie, Glen Tomlinson and Richard Whan.

Mitch Carrigan, Mike Boyle, Ryan and Laura Owens and Georgia Michell. Mitch Carrigan, Mike Boyle, Ryan and Laura Owens and Georgia Michell.

Carlee Miller and Andrew Shars. Carlee Miller and Andrew Shars.

Jeremy Brown and Ben McInnes. Jeremy Brown and Ben McInnes.

“I went first. He used this push bike set-up to control the shears that cut our hair.

“I think the haircut suits Jem actually, it does only take a couple of weeks for it to start to grow back.”

Leon said the couple aimed to raise $2000 together and so far they’ve collected $2833 for the Leukemia Foundation.

“We made about $1200 on the night and I got about $300 busking out the front but people can still donate.”

The Leukemia Foundation said every day 41 Australians are told they have blood cancer, that’s one person every 36 minutes, and sadly 20 people will lose their life to blood cancer daily.

More than 110,000 Australians are living with blood cancer or related disorders.

In 2020, the Leukaemia Foundation marks 22 years of World’s Greatest Shave, making it one of Australia’s longest running and most loved fundraising events.

More than two million Aussies have taken part over the past two decades, with an estimated 37,500 kilograms of hair removed.