Like many Port Douglians, Harriet Ferguson and her family have been touched by cancer. But unlike most, Harriet is set to lose her trademark fiery locks – roughly 60cm in length – on March 16 at the Central Hotel, as part of the Leukaemia Foundation's World's Greatest Shave.

“Why shave my head? A moment of madness, really,” she explained. ““Last week, my friend and I sat down in the kitchen, got online and just joined up and that was it! So, no turning back!

“We've been touched by cancer as most people have, in their family or close friends, so it just came about and I thought, ‘Why not?’ The Leukaemia Foundation needs to raise awareness about fundraising in Queensland, so [participating in the World’s Greatest Shave] is a good way of keeping the issue in the public eye.”

The national event, from March 13-16, will see brave participants receive sponsorship to shave, colour or wax their hair, with the money used to support patients living with blood cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related blood disorders.

“I'm just that sort of person…I say I'll do something, and I go out and I do it. And that's just me!” Harriet said.

Originally from the English midlands, near Manchester, the mum of two moved to Port Douglas 13 years ago and currently operates her own cleaning business in town.

Her lengthy mane has taken six years to grow, and with trained hairdressers responsible for the shorter ‘do on the day, she isn’t concerned about her appearance post-shave.

“I'm just a bit like, ‘Well, it'll be fine.’ I'm sure it will - I'm going to tell myself that, anyway!”

Harriet said it helps that her husband is “pretty supportive”, though joked that her two young sons aren’t enthusiastic.

“I said to my youngest boy, ‘Will you still love your Mommy if she's got short hair?’, and he turned around and said, 'No!'”

Since the first event in 1998, the Leukaemia Foundation has raised $158 million, and Queensland has a state target of $5 million this year.