My World’s Greatest Shave

On the 13^th of March I shaved my hair for the World’s Greatest Shave which is a charity where volunteers raise money, and it goes towards the Leukaemia foundation. About two months before, my friend Zoe and I were talking about it; I was wondering when it was and I was thinking how inspirational those people that do it really are. My mum mentioned to me that night after I brought it up, that our old family friend, who is 17, and female, did it last year. This is when I considered it. I thought, ‘Why can’t I do that?’. I slept on the thought and the next day I was talking to Zoe and decided I would do it. I asked the appropriate teachers that recess when The World’s Greatest Shave was, she said March. I thought, that’s enough time to raise a good amount of money.  I told my mum that night that I was going to do it, and she was really supportive.  Eventually the word got around and people were coming up to me at school telling me what I was doing was a really great thing. I asked around for donations from every one, just change from their canteen purchases and such. A few close friends gave me as much money as 10/20 dollar notes.  The next week I had a family gathering and most of my family was very supportive. They sponsored me over 200 dollars, by this time I had already raised 100 dollars in coins so I had raised quite a lot. I didn’t really have a problem with losing my hair, but It didn’t really hit me until the lesson before I was shaving my hair, I was freaking out!

All of a sudden, it was 11.55 and it was time for shaving my hair! I walked outside and met up with my mum. She came to watch, and she had brought a camera to film it. I handed the money into the teacher in charge, handed my school bag to my friend and sat in the chair. There were so many people surrounding the designated area and all my friends were cheering me on. I looked at the teacher who was shaving my hair, Ms Deacon, she was preparing herself, put the smock over my shoulders and positioned my hair. The presenter, Darcy, introduced myself and the crowd cheered, Ms Deacon whispered in my ear ‘Would you like it at a number 3, 2, or 1. ‘ She was talking about how close I wanted the shave. I chose 3, I still had some hair on my head. And within what seemed like half an hour, but was actually a few minutes she started chopping away at my hair. I looked up at my friends and they were pulling scared, exaggerated faces. I felt my hair, it wasn’t there, When I looked back at my hand it was covered in tiny little shaved hairs.  Darcy applauded me and the crowd cheered again, he asked me how I was feeling. I was shaking, I was a bit nervous,  I didn’t respond to what he said and jumped into the crowd to my friend who was holding my bag. My friends came up to me, rubbing my hair, hugging me, and congratulating me.

Still to this day, even though it’s only been a few weeks since it happened, people still come up to me, patting my hair, and telling me what I did was so fantastic.  All together, I raised $448 dollars.

I hope the money I raised helps someone out, and maybe even saves a life. I personally did this because of the people from my past I know that have passed away because of cancer, cancer is a terrible thing.