Students from Stawell Secondary College have made pledges to charity.
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Year 12 students Elissa Jess, Bronte Cuff and Nicholas Bendall are raising money in various ways for children with cancer.
Elissa Jess will shave her long locks to donate to children with cancer. Her hair will be made into a wig. Wigs will be used for children who have lost their hair due to cancer treatment.
“I have thought about this for a few years. This year is very stressful but this is something we can work towards to bring us all together,” she said.
Miss Jess said her inspiration came from a teacher at the school.
“A teacher shaved her hair and I thought it was a selfless act. I have a choice to grow my hair or cut it. There are children out there who don’t get that choice,” she said.
Hair donations are more than 35cm long and are sent to Queensland to be made into a wig.
Miss Jess said wigs could cost families up to $6000 and last one to two years, meaning families can spend tens of thousands of dollars on the purchase of wigs throughout a child’s youth.
Bronte Cuff will cut her long hair short for the charity.
Miss Cuff said there were many people in her life touched by cancer.
“One of my friend’s mums passed away from cancer. She had a lot of treatment and needed a wig. Once I heard that you could donate hair for children, I knew it was something I could do – to make someone’s life easier,” she said.
Nicholas Bendall said he had grown his moustache for about six months and decided to get behind the cause and raise money to shave it off.
“My moustache has been a part of me since starting year 12. A lot of students see me with my moustache, so it will be a statement to shave it off,” he said.
“A lot of people have told me it needs to go, so this is a great cause for everyone to get behind the charity.”
The trio will shave or cut their hair on Thursday, September, 20.