The mum of five is shaving her head as part of The World's Greatest Shave later this month in a bid to fundraise for treatment research childhood leukaemia.

Rachel said watching close family members battle the disease was part of the reason she decided to take the bold step.

As a teenager, she saw her cousin lose her 19 month old child to the disease and said the loss has always stayed with her.

"That loss impacted my whole life and the way that I look after my kids," she said. "It's always in the back of my mind that they could fall sick, it's quite prevalent and can affect anyone."

Later as a mum herself, the disease struck closer when her dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

"He had to go to Canberra for an operation and we didn't know if he was going to come back or not," she said. "At the time it was devastating, it was a 'was he or wasn't he?'"

Thankfully her dad survived after surgery, something that was a huge motivation for her when it came to choosing to undergo the shave.

"It showed me how important funding for treatment and research into cures is, especially for childhood cancers," she said.

She said she finally decided to do the shave this year after releasing the devastating impacts the coronavirus restrictions over the past 12 months must have had on patients undergoing treatment.

"With children being in hospital having people there with them, keeping the child in good spirits is going to help," she said. "Only being able to have mum or dad there must be so difficult."

She said she's not worried about losing her long hair, pointing out it hardly compares to the suffering of patients undergoing intense treatments like chemotherapy.

"It's only hair, it will grow back," she shrugged.

If she does get nervous, she's getting plenty of support from her kids.

11-year-old Ashley even wanted to join in the shave, though her mum decided she was too young this time around.

Rachel will shave her head on Saturday, June 26 at the Magnolia Hair Studio at Turvey Tops shopping center at 10 am.

She is hoping to raise over her goal of $1000 and donations can be made at this link.

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