By KATIE DE VERTEUIL
SCHOOL communities across the shire have once again shown their support of The Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave by sacrificing locks or rocking crazy hairdos for the worthy cause.
The World’s Greatest Shave is the Leukaemia Foundation’s biggest fund-raiser with money raised going towards helping to reduce the impact of leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma – through research, and free emotional and practical support (like transport to and from treatment, and accommodation for regional Australians who need to move to the city close to hospital).
Following the tragic loss of one of the school’s dads last year, the Noosa Christian College community has banded together to raise more than $2000 for the Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave.
Teachers, parents and students alike swamped the school’s undercover area last Friday for the fund-raising event which saw Principal David Rogers, member of support staff Fiona Moody and secondary teacher Nigel Hobson bid farewell to their lovely locks.
To the cheers of students from Prep through to Year 12, one by one the nominees were left a little lighter as school parent and trained hairdresser Jenni Stakey kindly performed the cuts.
To boost our school’s fund-raising goals a number of other staff, students and parents joined in the fun by getting their hair sprayed with vibrant colours in return for a $2 donation.
“Our small school community has been directly impacted by cancer – with family members suffering illness, and tragically, the passing of one of our school dads to leukaemia last year,” Mr Rogers said.
“This is our gesture of friendship and support to our school families – and also a brave way to inspire our students to care for each other through difficult times.”
Achieving well over their original goal of $1500, Mr Rogers was thrilled by the generosity of the school community.
Good Shepherd Lutheran College was also involved in the World’s Greatest Shave and students and staff have been overwhelmed by support raising nearly $5000 and still counting for the Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave – exceeding all expectations.
Students in Years 6 to 12 were given the opportunity to volunteer to represent their House groups by sacrificing their hair to raise money for the charity.
The college has been staging this event for the last 10 years or so, each year drawing a healthy number of students to take up the challenge for the worthy cause.This year 11 students volunteered to have their heads shaved in front of an audience of more than 400 of their peers.
Co-ordinator Sarah Mayer said the students showed great enthusiasm towards the event and were very competitive in their fund-raising efforts.
“We were overwhelmed by the number of students who were happy to sacrifice their hair for a good cause,” Ms Mayer said.
“Traditionally, students from this age group might be a little uneasy about shaving their hair off, yet both boys and girls were excited about the fact that they could make a difference.”
Lachie Roughley was one such student who sacrificed their locks on Tuesday.
“I had never shaved my head before so I was slightly nervous but people will support me and I will know I’m doing it for a great cause,” Lachie said.
“Quite a few of my family members have suffered from different types cancer which motivated me to do this fund-raiser for them and other people suffering from blood cancers.”
Along with the traditional shaving of hair, for a small donation students from Prep to Year 12 had the opportunity to have ‘funky’ hair for the day to show their support for this worthy charity.
“It was great to see all the students and staff come together and really enjoy raising money for the Leukaemia Foundation – all the while knowing that their efforts really will help in the search for a cure,” principal Anthony Dyer said.
Today, 31 Australians will be given the devastating news that they have leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma or a related blood disorder.
That’s more than 12,000 people in 2015.
More than 60,000 people are living with one of these blood cancers or a related blood disorder in Australia right now.
Although survival rates are improving, blood cancers like these are the third biggest cause of cancer death in Australia.
For more information visit www.worldsgreatestshave.com
