Cub motivated to shave head for 'poppa'

Damien Enright, 10, lost his locks for Shave for a Cure in front of his friends from the Arawa Cub Pack. Photo / Ben Fraser

Damien Enright might be feeling the cold around his ears this winter, but he doesn't mind.

The 10-year-old cub scout from the Arawa Cub Pack shaved his head this week in front of 14 cubs.

The Westbrook Primary School student signed up to Shave for a Cure, a fundraising website for the national charity Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand, about three weeks ago. He wanted to raise about $40 before he shaved his head, as cancer had touched his family.

"Honestly I thought of my poppa because he battled cancer for 19 years."

Damien said he was not nervous about shaving his head.

Damien's mum Kirsty Enright said she was proud of Damien for coming up with the idea and following it through.

"I didn't actually think he would go through with it, but he has always been brought up to know if he wants to do something, if it's within reason, he can do it."

Damien was not worried about people's reaction to his new hairdo. "I don't think people will be shocked by it. I have told a lot of people that I am doing it ... I will just wear a bandanna. The one I have is purple and green for scout colours. Purple represents adventure and green represents my transition to scouts."

Louise Jones-Stybert, 8, was impressed with Damien's decision to shave his head, and said she would do the same.

"It's really good, I think he is brave ... I would do it."

Cub leader Amanda Seeley was also proud of Damien, but his behaviour was not unusual for a cub scout, she said.

"I fully support him. Some of the kids do things to support other not-for-profit organisations, and it is part of the community service. They must raise money for an organisation."