‘My own brushes’: How to help put rainbow mullet on mountain

In just over two months, a group of 20 Toowoomba locals will climb Mount Everest to help raise funds for mental health. But one woman will be doing it while sporting a colourful mullet.

Shelley Burchett is raising funds for Momentum Mental Health as the "Mullet on the Mountain" to climb Everest. Picture: Nev Madsen

Climbing Mount Everest is a lot like tackling mental health – both require persistence, resilience and a fighting spirit and are all qualities which Shelley Burchett possesses.

It has not always been smooth sailing for the marketing manager and wedding celebrant who faced her own mental health struggles in 2020.

“I’ve had my own brushes with mental health but it’s important to integrate mental health practices throughout your day because it doesn’t just stop when you go to work or home,” Ms Burchett said.

Shelley Burchett is raising funds for Momentum Mental Health as the "Mullet on the Mountain" to climb Everest. Picture: Nev Madsen

Now the fierce woman is now set to complete a 130km round trip and 17,000 foot climb up to the Mount Everest basecamp alongside a group of 20 Toowoomba hikers.

The unique experience will not only bring Ms Burchett who is ‘petrified’ of heights, a sense of achievement, but will also raise funds and awareness for Momentum Mental Health.

Keen to take the challenge one step further, the Toowoomba woman will complete the adventurous trek while sporting a rainbow mullet.

Shelley Burchett is raising funds for Momentum Mental Health as the "Mullet on the Mountain" to climb Everest. Picture: Nev Madsen

Taking colour requests in exchange for donations, the Toowoomba woman has already dyed her mullet pink and has accepted another donor’s challenge of multiple colours at once.

“My brother said if I got a mullet he would donate $500 … I didn’t tell him this at the time but I would have done it for free,” she said.

“Momentum is awesome because they help absolutely anyone struggling with their mental health regardless of if they have received a diagnosis.

“To help get the mullet on the mountain (the public) can still make a donation.”

Shelley Burchett is raising funds for Momentum Mental Health as the "Mullet on the Mountain" to climb Everest. Picture: Nev Madsen

While Ms Burchett has not yet determined if she will keep the hairstyle after the fundraiser, she admitted it was a great talking piece to raise further awareness for the non-profit organisation.

With a combined group goal of $100,000, Ms Burchett is close to hitting her personal target of $5500 after securing more than $4000 in generous donations.

Since signing up in October, Ms Burchett has been training up to 15 hours a week.

She will also be joined by Toowoomba Councillor Megan O’Hara Sullivan on the Mount Everest basecamp climb.

The team will fly out to complete the trek at the end of April.

If you are struggling, please contact Momentum Mental Health on 4632 4688 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

To help get the ‘mullet on the mountain’ you can donate here.