Jon Boniface of Tweed Coast chops off dreadlocks to raise money for charity on Tweed Coast

AFTER 16 years with dreadlocks, and nearly three decades with long hair — this man will chop them all off. Here’s his devastating story behind the haircut.

Jon Boniface with daughter Mireille Boniface age 5. Picture Mike Batterham

INSTEAD of letting chemotherapy for a rare form of cancer beat him to it, a Bilambil Heights man is chopping off the dreadlocks he’s had for the past 16 years — and raising $10,000 in the process.

Jon Boniface and his family received the devastating cancer news in June this year but wife Bronwyn convinced Mr Boniface to tackle the situation head-on.

Jon Boniface has dreadlocks, some more than 70cm long. Picture Mike Batterham

“I’ve had long hair for about 28 years,” he said.

“I got them dreaded 16 years ago. It’s all going to fall out anyway, it will look manky when it all goes.

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“So we decided to take control of the situation. But I’m leaving my beard.”

Mr Boniface will now get his dreadlocks, some more than 70cm long, cut off on August 19 and raise money for World’s Greatest Shave for a Cure, just like Ms Boniface did in 2016 after gall-bladder surgery.

Pictured at their Bilambil Heights home, Jon Boniface who has been diagnosed with lymphoma and leukaemia. Pictured with his wife Bronwyn Boniface and daughter Mireille Boniface, age 5. Picture Mike Batterham

While Ms Boniface raised $4200, the family is looking to more than double it this time around and has already raised $7800 of the $10,000 target.

Mr Boniface, who is dad to two children, Riley, 8, and Mireille, 5, said he had been putting off going to the doctor but could no longer work by June as he was often sick.

He was diagnosed with leukaemia and lymphoma. Doctors at Royal Brisbane Hospital are still devising a treatment plan due to the complexities of his condition.

Mr Boniface will chop off the dreadlocks he's had for 16 years and raise money for World's Greatest Shave for a Cure. Picture Mike Batterham

Yep, the dreads are long! Picture Mike Batterham

The former builder and carpenter said he was trying hard to cope after being in and out of hospital fighting pneumonia and having biopsies the past week.

“It’s just a matter of keeping positive and hope treatment works,” he said.

Ms Boniface said her partner’s chemotherapy had not started just yet and probably would after his hair was lopped off at the end of this month.

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“Life’s been hard enough … and he’s been my carer and my heart’s broken,” she said.
“He was working full-time as a builder and carpenter to support our little family.

“For the past 15 days, when I tell him he has another donation, message or goodwill, it makes him smile and I pray it makes him stronger to fight this big battle ahead for himself, for me and for our two little children.”

She said her husband also needed a bone-marrow transplant. The family was hoping his sister in the UK would provide a match. If not, the medical team would need to find a suitable donor on the register.

To donate: https://secure.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/registrant/FundraisingPage.aspx?registrationID=721151 & langPref=en-CA