Mandurah dad Ryan Allen to shave mullet for Lifeline fundraiser

"Shaving the mullet is a symbol of removing the filth from the back of my mind - and because dreadlocks are heavy, it'll also be taking a huge weight off my shoulders."

Mr Allen faced some hardships a few years ago, which saw him turn to Lifeline for support.

"I went through a pretty tough time a few years ago and had to call Lifeline a couple of times," he said.

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On one of the occasions, Mr Allen had to hold the line, a situation he said he feared would be difficult for those who needed the service more than he did.

"I was left on hold for almost an hour - it made me realise they need help."

This sparked an idea for Mr Allen - he would fundraise for Lifeline in a creative way which would rally the community behind him.

"I've been growing the mullet for six years - so my plan is to raise money for Lifeline, and at the end of September, hold an event where I'll have the mullet shaved off."

Mr Allen's family are supportive of the fundraising idea in more ways than one.

"My mum's pretty happy - she doesn't like the mullet," Mr Allen laughed.

"She's stoked."

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A driving force for Mr Allen is the knowledge that Lifeline has the opportunity to help both young people and parents who are going through a rough patch.

"If it wasn't for Lifeline I might not be here for my little girl at the moment," he said.

"It's very important for parents and kids to be able to call them and just have someone to talk to."

To donate to Mr Allen's Lifeline fundraiser, visit his cause page 'losing the filth'.

If you or anyone you know is going through a hard time, contact Lifeline - 13 11 14