Pupils shave their heads for cancer

It may have cost them their hair, but four Blue Mountain College pupils are taking a stand against cancer.

Roan Verkerk, Hans Masunu, Merryn Helby Wightman and Callum Stuart went under the buzzer last week to raise money for the Child Cancer Foundation as part of Wig Wednesday.

Callum said together they raised about $3400.

‘‘I didn’t want to know what it would feel like to have cancer.’’

For the other three, the decision to shave their heads was personal.

‘‘I’ve known people in the past who’ve had cancer,’’ Hans said.

Roan said he lost his grandfather to cancer five years ago.

‘‘That’s the reason I started raising money.

‘‘I started growing my hair three years ago.’’

It had since grown over 30cm long before he got it cut.

‘‘I thought I’d shave it off and donate my hair so it can become a wig for someone else who has cancer and lost all their hair in the process,’’ he said.

Merryn said a couple of her relatives had battled with cancer.

‘‘Luckily they’ve made it through, but I think it’s important every once and a while to just raise awareness and educate people more about it.’’

Staff member Sarah Davies said she was very proud of the four pupils.

‘‘I really take my hat off to the children that put their hand up to shave. It is a really big call and I love how the rest of the school support any children that do it.’’