Push to go baldly into record books

A Northland charity aims to set a world record for the number of heads shaved in one sitting at Kerikeri on November 20. Photo / Peter de Graaf

A Northland charity aims to set a world record for the number of heads shaved in one sitting while raising $100,000 for disadvantaged kids.

The Bald Angels Big Head Shave will take place at the Turner Centre in Kerikeri on November 20, the eve of the Kerikeri Half Marathon.

The world record is 371 heads shaved in an hour by a team of 10 hairdressers, set in the US state of Wisconsin in 2012.

The Bald Angels team is aiming to better that by persuading 400 people to sacrifice their hair for a good cause.

Organiser Therese Wickbom, of Kerikeri, was confident of reaching the 400-head target.

"Northland is full of big-hearted people. Of course we'll do it," she said.

Some had put their hands up already, including extreme fisherman Matt Watson and his crew, and she was hoping the event would spark competition between local businesses.

She had boldly invited famous heads of hair such as Northland MP Winston Peters (unavailable that evening) and Lorde (no reply as yet).

The charity's inaugural big shave three years ago raised more than $45,000 and saw 62 people go bald to benefit children in the care of Hospice Mid Northland. This time, the proceeds would go to a variety of children's causes in the Far North.

If the event raised $100,000, the Bald Angels Charitable Trust would be able to apply for "serious funding" and "do something uniquely Northland to look after our kids".

Mrs Wickbom said the Far North had some of the highest rates of child poverty, rheumatic fever and hearing loss in the developed world. "That isn't anything to be proud of. We want to make kids' lives better and hand out some hope," she said.

Anyone who wanted to take part must register beforehand.

The Bald Angels will also enter a team in the Kerikeri Half Marathon the next day, identifiable by their angel wings, pink tutus and, by then, shaved heads. Other Bald Angels projects include the Kerikeri Community Garden, which grows fresh produce for distribution to needy families.

-For more information or to register go to www.baldangels.org.nz. To pick up a form go to Cafe Cinema on Hobson Ave, Kerikeri; DD Gold on Commerce St, Kaitaia; Creative Glass on Broadway, Kaikohe; or Countdown on Puketona Rd, Paihia.