School raises $5744 for cancer research

A school librarian and a number of brave students have bid farewell to their long locks for a worthy cause, with the community throwing thousands of dollars behind them in support.

Dalyellup Primary School librarian Heather Lindsay and students Matilda Salmon, John Northrop, both 11, Imogene Anderson, 9, and Savannah Anderson, 7, all braved the chop in a bid to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation.

For Ms Lindsay, it was not her first rodeo, having had the chop three times since 2017 after feeling motivated to raise awareness of the effects of cancer when her 15-year-old niece Mia died from the disease. She said it was amazing to see several students build up the courage to take part in the World’s Greatest Shave themselves.

“Matilda was going to do it last year but chickened out so she shaved my head last year and this year she built up the courage to do it herself,” she said.

“Then John joined in and so did Imogene and Savannah, who wanted to donate their hair to make wigs.”

Ms Lindsay said the World’s Greatest Shave helped people open their eyes and become aware of just how many different types of cancers were out there.

“Before Mia passed away I did not know there were so many kids with cancer and going up to Princess Margaret Hospital at that time it was horrible to see so many kids suffering,” she said.

“If doing this helps people become more aware, then that’s great.”

The group managed to blitz their goal of raising $5000 to go towards cancer research, raising a total of $5744 from staff morning teas, having a gold-coin donation crazy hair day and raising money throughout the community.

“I’m so grateful for everyone that has donated, some of them have donated year in year out,” Ms Lindsay said.

“This community has really shown how generous and supportive they are by donating to this cause.”