By Alesha Capone
Six Wyndham friends will soon be sporting mullets for a good cause.
Jamie Calleja-Bailey, Justin Buckler, Tobi Bray, Matthew Palmington, Mark Smith and Aaron Aitken have joined The Black Dog Institute’s Mullets for Mental Health fundraising campaign.
The Black Dog Institute supports people with mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety.
Mr Calleja-Bailey said he and his mates – who have dubbed themselves the “Low and Slow Mullets Crew” – have raised more than $7600 for The Black Dog Institute, making then them the fourth-highest fundraising group in the nation for the mental health campaign.
“Ultimately it was something that resonated with me, I’ve lost a few mates to suicide and it is something of a silent epidemic in society, especially among males,” Mr Calleja-Bailey said.
On September 1, Mr Calleja-Bailey and the others will cut their hair into a mullet, in return for donations and to raise awareness of mental health.
Mr Calleja-Bailey said each of his friend’s partners would do the haircutting, which they plan to stream online.
Mr Calleja-Bailey, a VCAL co-ordinator and teacher at Tarneit Senior College, said the school’s staff and principal have been supportive of his fundraising efforts.
He said that Mr Bray, in his role as manager of AWM Electrical in Hoppers Crossing, has also helped to get several businesses on board with donations.
Mr Calleja-Bailey said he wanted to reinforce the ethos of The Black Dog Institute: that it is important for people to seek help when experiencing mental health issues.
“It’s OK to talk, there is plenty of information available and lots of resources available to help,” he said.
Visit teamblackdog.org.au/fundraiser/LowandSlowMullets to make a donation.
