DESCRIBED as a “caring little girl”, young Jorja Glynn braved the scissors at the Greenwald Paceway on Friday night and raised an impressive $1873 for the Breast Cancer Network Australia.
While others are excited about receiving gifts with Christmas just around the corner, this eight-year-old was working out ways she could give back.
Donating her hair to PONYtails 4 Pink Angels was her final choice.
Glynn decided she would part with her long locks and rock a bob hair style after losing her grandmother Angel (Helen Glynn) to breast cancer in 2004.
Jorja unfortunately never met her grandmother, but regardless felt the need to give something back in her memory.
With endless support surrounding her, Jorja put on a brave face while her four plaits were neatly cut off by Kylie Shepard.
After the “chop” the youngster said she was pleased with her decision to go ahead with both the fundraiser and hair donation.
“It all went really well,” she told The Border Watch.
“I was a little bit nervous before the hair was cut, but I am happy with how it all went now.”
Aiming for just $500 in the early days of the fundraiser, Jorja was overwhelmed with support eventually surpassing $1800.
“I was only aiming for $500 and I definitely beat that, so I am very happy,” she said.
“It was good to see so many people come and support me too.”
Jorja’s proud mother Jodie was pleased with her daughter’s efforts on the night, raising far more than initially expected.
Jodie said the Mount Gambier Harness Racing meeting was the “perfect place” to make “the cut” due to the family’s strong ties to the club.
“Her dad – Jason Glynn – is a driver and her pop trains horses,” she said.
“They also have horses, it is a family tradition.”
Jodie said despite Jorja never meeting Helen – who was also heavily into horses – she is regularly talked about among the family.
“The horses our family now run have Samara in them,” she said.
“That was her grandma Angel’s last named horse Samara Boy and since then we have called our property Samara Stables.
“All of our horses have got the name Samara in them, so it is a bit of a family tradition
“We have always talked about her, but she passed away about 14 years ago so Jorja never had the privilege of meeting her.”
Jodie said the family had made an effort to talk about her greatly missed grandma and the effects of cancer, which has shaped Jorja into the caring young girl she is today.
“We talk about her (Helen) at home and talk about cancer because unfortunately it affects a lot of people,” she said.
“But she decided to do this fundraiser herself.
“She is just a caring little girl who wanted to do something to save someone’s life.”
As well as her mother Jodie, Jorja was also supported by her sister Jemma and her father Jason on the night, as well as a number of businesses and individuals.
