IT's going to take some time for Josh Arens to get used to his new cut, after shaving his 48-centimetre-long locks off.
"It feels spiky, sort of," Josh, 11, said.
"I like it, but I don't like it, because I'm so used to having it really long and now it feels rough instead of smooth."
But he doesn't regret it for a second.
The Dudley Public School vice-captain started growing his hair more than four years ago to emulate his older brother Sam, who received a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2017.
Josh said he started thinking at that time about participating one day in the Leukaemia Foundation's World's Greatest Shave.
Sam passed away aged 11 on March 24, 2019.
Josh said he decided around Sam's birthday last October the time had come.
He set his shave date as Friday March 12 and has raised more than $34,700 in just one month, through donations and his school hosting a Crazy Hair Day and lolly jar guessing competition.
Josh said when Sam was in hospital he received 845 bravery beads for various procedures, including more than 30 blood transfusions, which he kept in a jar.
Josh said he and his parents Barry and Christine ensured there were 845 lollies in the jar.
"We matched it to have a link to Sam," Josh said.
"I think Sam would be quite happy with me and how brave I am now and I think he'd annoy me a bit about how short my hair is and say 'Where is the Josh that I knew?'"
Barry Arens, who used to rib both his sons about their long hair, said Josh's gesture was "phenomenal".
"He's a good kid and has done a great job," Mr Arens said.
"It's been nice to channel our energy into something positive, something constructive."
He said Dudley Public held a Crazy Hair Day when Sam was sick and bought him a computer and gave him $800 to spend on Lego.
He said Sam decided to spent $400 on Lego and give the rest to Ronald McDonald House and the Leukaemia Foundation.
"Sam was really keen on science and keen to support a process which would eventually lead to a cure. He made it really easy for us because he basically gave us our two charity horses to back."
Josh said he would start growing his hair again to shave for the Leukaemia Foundation in year 12.
"Then it will be even longer and I can have this feeling again: happiness, sadness, nervousness."
