0-year-old Jye has been growing his hair for the last three years which has become a wild and woolly mop, in preparation for a special fundraiser, “Jye Cuts for Cousins”.

“I didn’t cut it out of spite,” he said.

“Everyone kept telling me I needed a haircut and I just didn’t.

“Then it got to a point that I thought I may as well cut it for a charity.”

Jye said it didn’t take much thinking to decide which charity to make the donation to - with his cousins at the forefront of his mind.

He has made many trips to the RCH over the years to visit three of his cousins.

On the eve of Good Friday, sections of Jye’s hair and his beard will be auctioned off, with the event livestreamed via Facebook as it is shaved and cut off.

“Three of my cousins and their families have been supported by the RCH through many hardships, griefs and continued medical treatments,” Jye said.

“You never know when someone you know may need to go to the Children’s.

“Count your lucky stars if you haven’t already been in that position.”

Jye’s mother Trudy Irving said two of Jye’s cousins, siblings Tom and Rahni Meade, had required treatment at the RCH.

“Tommy is four months older than Jye,” she said.

“He was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy very young and has still been receiving treatment there.

“He’s been an ongoing patient as he has a long medical history there.

“Rahni required treatment at the RCH over a long course for chronic kidney disease.

“So obviously raising money for the Royal Children’s is something that is very close to Jye’s heart.

“We are very proud of him.”

Mrs Irving said people have already been giving donations online through the Good Friday Appeal website at “Jye Cuts for Cousins” with so far over $730 raised out of a $2000 goal.

She said her son is renowned around town for wearing an orange crocheted hat, come rain, hail, or shine.

“The beanie was knitted by his great aunt and he’s been wearing it for about seven years now,” she said.

“Some people have offered to make a donation for Jye just to lose the beanie,” she said.

“I think it’s held together with grease, sweat and oil.”

Another of Jye’s cousins, Natalie Bell, had a brain aneurysm that led to her being hospitalised at the age of 13 at the RCH.

“They were particularly close,” Mrs Irving said.

“They used to go to pony club together and go horse riding together and muck around out on the farm.

“Sadly, Natalie passed away in 2019.”

“She was lapsing in and out of consciousness over a period of five weeks and we made several trips to support her and her mum and dad during that time.

“We were lucky, in a way, that it was pre-COVID time and we were able to spend time with her at the Royal Children’s.”

Mrs Irving said Tim Cogger from Fringe Benefits will be supervising the hair cutting.

“We are organising it so people can bid to see Jye’s hair removed in sections before the final shave,” she said.

“Jye is hoping to raise at least a couple of thousand dollars - so we’re hoping to see a lot of people come along to the Cally on the night”. Online donations can be made at: fundraise.goodfridayappeal.com.au/fundraisers/jyeirving/gfa