Kamo Intermediate students, staff kiss their hair goodbye for a worthy cause

Teachers Brad Kini, left, Michael Harrison and Olivia Broadfoot and student Dylan Browne are all smiles after kissing their hair goodbye. Photo/John Stone

They enthusiastically lined up and kissed their hair goodbye — but not before raising more than $5500 for cancer sufferers.

Kamo Intermediate School hall was a hive of activity at lunchtime yesterday and those that gathered had student Dylan Browne to thank for organising Shave for a Cure, with all proceeds going to Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand.

Team KIS— Browne and 22 other students, plus teachers Olivia Broadfoot, Brad Kini and Mike Harrison— said goodbye to their hair and hairdresser Robyn Cathcart was on hand to do the honours.

The initiative raised $5600 within three weeks.

The school also organised a wacky hair day where students paid $2 for participation and an extra $1 to come along and watch the shave.

Dylan, 12, thought about raising money for the cause after visiting a cancer survivor in Whangarei who had to have her head shaved.

Teacher Graham Rickards put his hairdressers' hat on while working on the pate of Ryley Wise. Photo/John Stone

He initially took it upon himself to personally raise $500 but the school later chipped in and donations started pouring in online.

Mum Jess said her family was proud of Dylan who came to the idea of fundraising for a worthy cause by himself.

He was the first to kiss his hair goodbye and was visibly emotional coming back down the stage.

"I felt like I was going to throw up. I was nervous," he said.

Broadfoot has a personal connection with the fundraising initiative as four members of her family are suffering from cancer.

She was the only female teacher who has had her head shaved and fellow teachers were keen to feel her pate.

"I think it's really brave of Dylan to do something like this. Any children doing this is honouring the values of those suffering from cancer," she said.

Teachers Brad Kini, left, Michael Harrison and Olivia Broadfoot show off their pate after the clippers got the job done. Photo/John Stone

School principal Kim Sloane said Dylan persevered by constantly coming to the teachers and asking them and the school to be a part of Shave for a Cure.

She said the school decided to support children that shaved their hair by organising a wacky hair day as a way for other students to take part in the fundraiser.

"It's the first time the school is doing it and it's for such a worthy cause it will become an annual event. I am blown away at how much money we've raised," she said.