SATURDAY was a memorable day for Melbourne’s Ben Brown in more ways than one.

After nearly a lifetime of long curly locks, the tall forward said goodbye to his famous hair, familiarising himself with a drastic new look in 2023.

But more importantly, Brown helped raise more than $80,000 for Challenge, a charity that supports children and families living with cancer.

Challenge holds a special place in Brown’s heart, having been a major support for his cousin Grace, who is now in remission following a long-term battle with leukemia.

The fundraiser saw people from across the football community and beyond throw their support behind Brown, with the Melbourne AFL playing group contributing significantly, donating $5,000 as part of the AFL Players’ Association’s ‘Player Care Initiative’.

“Challenge have done so much for Grace’s family, [so] I wanted to do something to help them,” Brown told media following the big chop.

“[And] it’s been a fantastic response from everyone.

“Every cent counts, every cent helps Challenge do the amazing work that they do, so I’m thankful to everyone who has donated so far.”

Challenge said it was grateful for the collective support of Brown and the football world, with the funds raised going towards supporting the important work the organisation does. 

“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generosity, and for reminding us all that in times of hardship, we can still find hope and strength through the support of our communities."

To find out more about the incredible support that Challenge offers, you can visit the website here.