NOT many teenage girls would jump at the chance to shave their heads, but two Emerald Secondary College students are leading their peers by example in this year’s World’s Greatest Shave.
Year 12 student Shauna Harris will shave her head later this week in honour of her brother’s girlfriend, Jacqueline Boyle, who she said is “like a big sister”.
While across the schoolyard, year seven girl Georgie Davis will also bid a temporary farewell to her long locks.
Ms Boyle was 23 when she was diagnosed with leukaemia in mid-2011.
She has been in remission for a year and she, too, will join Shauna in participating in the Greatest Shave.
“It was a mixture of shock and sadness (when we found out),” Shauna said.
“You never think leukaemia will hit someone in your family.”
Ms Boyle went through gruelling bouts of chemotherapy but has since been given the all clear.
Shauna, 18, said the shave was “all about raising awareness” and she encouraged as many other local youngsters as possible to get involved.
“My friends say I’m really brave and they couldn’t do it,” Shauna said.
“I am a bit nervous, but who wouldn’t be?”
Shauna will have her head shaved at lunch time this Friday at the school.
She said her school was “really supportive” of the shave.
“They’re really getting behind it by having an out-of-uniform day for a cold coin donation,” she said.
“The money will go to the Leukaemia Foundation.”
Not to be outdone, year seven student Georgie Davis will also bid a temporary farewell to her long locks.
Emerald Secondary College principal Wayne Burgess was impressed with the youngster’s effort.
“Shaving your head is a big deal for anyone, especially a year seven girl,” he said.
Georgie’s shave will take place at Emerald Primary School on Thursday, alongside good friend and former primary school classmate Lily Slater – a year seven at Monbulk College.
Georgie will have her head shaved in memory of her great aunt and a close family friend who died of the disease.
“That was very daunting,” Georgie said of her aunt’s diagnosis.
“She was really healthy.”
Georgie, who lives in Gembrook, admits to being a little scared in the lead-up to the big day this Thursday.
“My friends can’t believe it,” she said.
“They play around with my hair while I still have it!”
Georgie said her family was “very supportive”, and even suggested her younger and older sisters could even shave their heads for the cause.
“But they’ll probably pike!” she laughed.
For the record, the 12-year-old’s last major haircut was two years ago.
To donate to the World’s Greatest Shave cause, visit www.worldsgreatestshave.com.
