When young children lose have their hair as part of cancer treatment, they have no choice. For the prefects at The Armidale School, voluntarily sacrificing their own locks to raise funds for Childhood Cancer Support, was the least they felt they could do.
“It’s a charity that’s close to home particularly for one little girl at our school and it’s a good way of bringing the school community together in support,” said Senior Prefect Bonnie Bremner.
For more than a decade the school’s prefects have shaved their heads for a good cause. Traditionally starting their campaign on War Cries Night, the first session of the school’s swimming championships – which this year on 15 February, in a stunning coincidence, just happened to be International Childhood Cancer Day.
“Even though it is a tradition it is something the prefect body genuinely looks forward to because it reaches out beyond themselves and the school community to benefit others in need,” said Bonnie, who says the group hopes to better the $7,500 raised by students last year for the Leukaemia Foundation. A ‘Go Fund Me’ page has been set up to support their efforts.
The first to go under the blades was Kitty McPhie, who gave up years of growth measuring more than 40cm. In coming months she will be joined by her 16 fellow prefects and several staff, with the boys going cleanskin and the girls donating long locks to a charity that makes wigs for those receiving cancer treatment.
Headmaster Murray Guest applauded the prefects on their sense of service.
“Their chosen cause is certainly one that resonates with our community but it also says something about them individually and collectively as young people with a genuine desire to improve the lives of others.”
Angus Smith takes the clippers to Sambavan Jeyakumar
Bonnie Bremner cuts their hair of Kitty McPhie to kick start the TAS 2018 Prefects Headshave for Childhood Cancer Support
With half a head of hair yet to go, Nicholas Farrer and Sambavan Jeyakumar receive a donation for Childhood Cancer Support from Richard Marshall, Burren Junction, at the school’s swimming championships on Friday
