Tina Berryman-Kamp enjoys her new hairstyle, all for a good cause. Photo/Ben Fraser
Plenty of tears - and hair - were shed as six locals bravely shaved their heads for cancer charities.
Throughout Shave for a Cure Week 18 shave events are taking place at Farmers stores across the country and today was Rotorua's turn.
Tina Berryman-Kamp raised more than $2000 to lose her hair and said it felt amazing.
"It's an important cause, and it's a relatively small thing to do," she said.
"This can happen to anyone and for people that do get cancer, they don't have any choice."
Mrs Berryman-Kamp said she had considered hiding her new bald head, but decided to just wear it out.
"It feels amazing."
Hairdressing students from Toi Ohomai donated their time to do the shave.
Lesley Akarana, a second year student, was in tears as she shaved Mrs Berryman-Kamp's head.
"I've had a lot of family die from cancer," she said.
"Holding her hair and shaving it off like that, it just made me wonder what they go through and how they stay so strong."
Support Services at Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand, Matthew Eby, said without government funding the charity relied on donations.
"Last year we raised over a million dollars from all our events across the nation," he said.
"That money goes towards our core services, research, awareness and advocating."
Farmers Rotorua store manager John Porteous said the store had been in partnership with Leukaemia and Blood Cancer for many years.
"From our perspective it's supporting a wonderful charity," he said.
To find out more or donate to the cause visit www.shaveforacure.co.nz
Who is affected by Leukaemia or related blood disorders?
At present 21,000 Kiwis live with a blood cancer or related blood disorder.
Six Kiwis are diagnosed every day.
Leukaemia is the most common childhood cancer.
