Blood cancer is a deadly disease, and an Armadale primary school has supported the fight against it by raising more than $2600 for charity.
On March 16 Grovelands Primary School’s students and staff banded together with coloured, crazy or shaved hair to support the Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave fundraiser.
Initially unsure if they would reach their $1500 target, the school eventually blasted past that figure to raise $2630 – including $400 in one morning.
While the school has hosted WGS events in the past, it was not until this year that a new staff member reintroduced the fundraiser to the school’s calendar and Grovelands PS community officer Michelle Ninyette said it had been a huge success.
“It was awesome, the kids enjoyed it,” she said.
“So any of them came to school with their hair coloured, or crazy hair, and donated a gold coin.”
While children came to school with their wackiest hair for the day, it was staff and one parent who sacrificed their locks for the event.
In front of chanting children, parent Ashlee Barrett and Grovelands PS employees John York, Phillip Brown and Sam Priestly shaved their heads down to short stubble.
Ms Priestly, the school’s gardener, said her grandmother had a form of leukaemia and wanted to do anything she could to help fight the disease.
“I’ve always thought about doing it, so this year I thought because I’m nearly 50 I would do it,” she said.
She said losing a few hairs was worth it to support an important cause.
“It’ll take a little bit of getting used to, but it’ll grow back,” she said.
