Bald is Beautiful – Woodford House girls lose their locks to support breast cancer

Georgia Buchanan, Claudia Eames, Celine Mabey, Le Vu, Sophie Simons, Alanah Price, Holly Lin, Nicole Parnell, and Juliet Wilkie after shaving their heads. Photo / Supplied

A group of nine Woodford House girls shaved their heads last week as a way to give back to the community and support women diagnosed with breast cancer.

The group's goal is to not only raise awareness of breast cancer, but to also raise $10,000 and donate all proceeds to the Breast Cancer Foundation NZ.

Fellow students, staff members and parents gathered to watch and provide support for the student-led initiative during lunch hour.

The girls involved were Georgia Buchanan, Claudia Eames, Holly Lin, Celine Mabey, Nicole Parnell, Alanah Price, Sophie Simons, Le Vu and Juliet Wilkie.

Many of them have personal connections with cancer and want to help change lives. Each one also believes it is important for society to understand that hair does not define beauty - bald is beautiful too.

Georgia explained: "I know that I don't need my hair to be beautiful. Fundraising money to help cancer sufferers and supporting these incredibly brave women is so much more beautiful. It should be our actions that make us beautiful, not our hair."

Celine shared her personal connection to cancer and why she joined in by saying, "I want to be able to help the community so that more people have the same story as my grandma, and can say that they conquered cancer.

"Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Foundation is an amazing cause helping women who are suffering around New Zealand. I would like to support them through tough times and give them the support they need to fight cancer."

Stephanie Russell, deputy principal – student wellbeing, has supported the girls throughout and played a central role in organising the event.

"This event distills down to the concept of respect. It's respect from all of us for the genesis of the idea to help others and find a cure for cancer. It's respect for these girls and their courageous act - for their solidarity and believing passionately that bald is beautiful."

Alanah summarised her own motivation for starting the Bald is Beautiful initiative with her classmates. "I want to shave my head for cancer, because I want to save a life. I want to do this because my hair doesn't define who I am.

"There are so many unfair standards surrounding women - including that we are supposed to have long, healthy hair - but some women don't get this option. Cancer patients don't choose when they lose their hair and it's hard for them. I want to show them that they're not alone."

The girls were joined by two staff members - teacher's aide Jill Foster and head chef Nick Haszard, as well as gap year student Micaela Soto – who also decided to shave their heads in support of the cause.

Foster said: "I am happy to support this cause as I have personally experienced cancer. I fully support our Woodford House girls in doing this as it is a huge commitment for young women with absolutely beautiful heads of hair to make such a sacrifice. It is for an amazing and worthy cause."

So far more than $5800 has been given to the campaign by 96 donors.

Girls with longer hair (natural and 21cm long) will be donating their hair to the American Pantene Beautiful Lengths Organisation to be made into wigs for cancer patients.

To donate, visit: https://givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/bald-is-beautiful#