CHOP FOR LOGAN
If Logan Paikea were still alive, he'd be counting down his last month of being twenty. There aren't enough words to sum out how unreal it feels to be celebrating yet another birthday without him, let alone his twenty-first. On June 3rd 2018, Logan died by suicide. Only nineteen years old and the oldest of six kids, with his whole life ahead of him. He was smart, funny, cheeky, kind, loving and gentle, and he could be a real ratbag when he wanted to be too. He had so much to give.
This wasn't what I had planned to give him for his 21st birthday - but aside from living my life to the fullest extent, this is the best gift I can give him and his family. Our boy deserves the sickest headstone ever and that's exactly what he's going to get. His beautiful mum Vanessa Paikea has been working tirelessly, with the help of my mum Karen Cutelli, to make some beautiful taonga to help raise funds for his headstone. I urge you to get in contact with her (or me) if you would like any of these pieces - they are absolutely stunning and made with so much love. Even so, headstones are super expensive, and I want to help where I can. It's important to me to be able to gift something to Logan and his family, for all the love and support they have given me over the last three years.
The only thing I can think to give is my hair.
I've been meaning to donate it for some time and have been growing it purposefully to do so. I've been growing it for seven years. It's been with me for through all my grief and has provided a sense of security that I no longer feel I need. In 2017, Logan asked me to cut of his beautiful locks (well I mean, he drunk bleached them and then accidentally dyed them green before purple) and now two years later, on his birthday weekend, I am going to ask his mum and my mum to do the same for me. 
I will be donating a whopping FOURTEEN INCHES to Locks of Love. The money paid to me will be donated to the Mental Health Foundation. Any money raised through this Go Fund Me page will be paid to Logan's mum, to go directly towards the cost of his headstone. If we reach over $1,500 I would also like to support Shine Whanganui. They are a non-profit community organisation "that delivers group mentoring and self-development programmes to the Whanganui community, to encourage and assist individuals to reach their potential." Both Vanessa and my mum are on this team, and the work they do in Whanganui is invaluable and needs to be supported.
So here goes nothing. Help me give this gift.
Links:
LOGAN PAIKEA
Mental Health Foundation
Shine Whanganui
Need to talk?
Free call or text 1737 for support from a trained counsellor.
Lifeline –
0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP)
Suicide Crisis Helpline –
0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
Healthline –
0800 611 116
Samaritans –
0800 726 666
Depression Helpline –
0800 111 757 or free text 4202 for support from a trained counsellor.
Youthline –
0800 376 633, free text 234
Skylight –
0800 299 100 for support through trauma, loss and grief;
9am–5pm weekdays.