Ten students and ten staff members - including principal Joanne Hutt - took part in a Shave for Cure fundraiser at the school raising nearly $11,000 for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand, and becoming the top school fundraiser in the country.
Kamo High School principal Joanne Hutt's shave begins. Photo/John Stone
Big grins, grimaces, and looks of shock.
The expressions on the faces of the Kamo High School principal, teachers, and students said it all as their long locks became bare heads.
Ten students and 10 staff members - including principal Joanne Hutt - took part in a Shave for Curefundraiser at the school yesterdayraising nearly $11,000 for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand, and becoming the top school fundraiser in the country.
When hairdresser Tina Alcock from iCUT Kamo shaved the first strip of Ms Hutt's hair off there was a grimace on her face, but that soon turned into a smile.
"I was thinking it was very hot sitting on stage and I now don't feel hot, and then I was thinking how am I going to tell my husband," she said.
It was on the back of a dare Ms Hutt ended up putting her hand up to take part.
Teacher Mark Turton said last Wednesday he would put $50 down if she got her head shaved and Ms Hutt said if the rest of the teachers did the same she would.
"We've raised a lot of money. It's absolutely fantastic."
Kamo High School principal Joanne Hutt as hairdresser Tina Alcock finishes the shave. Photo/John Stone
Maia Alexander-Crawford, Lachlan Henderson and Caleb Lenssen were the three students who drove the event.
They approached health and physical education teacher Hannah Winter last year saying they wanted to shave their hair off to raise money for cancer research.
Maia, who also donated locks of hair to be made into a wig, said she wanted to do Shave for a Cure because a cousin died from leukaemia in February.
"It was a huge step for me to do it because I have people struggling with it. I thought it would be good to make a difference," she said.
Maia Alexander-Crawford was one of three students who pushed for the Shave for Cure event to happen. Photo/John Stone
As Lachlan's hair came off he said it felt "really weird" but "nice".
"I really wanted to raise money for cancer," he said.
"I feel pretty proud that our school has taken part in this activity. It is kind of interesting for us as we're such a small school. It feels pretty amazing that we beat all the other schools participating."
Kamo High School students who were not getting their hair shaved off filled the school hall and cheered for their teachers and peers.
Some were even lucky enough to grab some scissors and a razor and get to work.
Ms Winter, who organised the event, had her hair cut off and shaved by students Lily Britton, Hinerua Tepene and Hannah More who received the honour after donating money.
"It's indescribable about how proud I am of Kamo High School in general and everyone getting behind us. Especially to the students that stood up were completely fearless. I don't think I could have done that when I was 13, 16, 18 years old."
