Bottesford teachers Brave the Shave for cancer charity
Two primary school teachers have raised over £2,000 for charity after shaving their heads.
Louisa Lonsdale and Rachel Beveridge, Years 3 and 4 teachers at Bottesford Primary School,Braved the Shave in front of fellow staff, pupils and parents on Tuesday in a bid to raise as much money as they could for Macmillan Cancer Support, after several of their family and friends have been affected by the disease recently.
The brave duo spoke to pupils about their reasons for supporting the cause in an assembly earlier this week before they got their hair shaved off after school had finished on Tuesday by hairdresser Nikki Veitch.
Louisa, who is also a literacy co-ordinator at the village school, said: “I have to admit that I had butterflies in my tummy all week and a few sleepless nights. Nikki put our hair in several ponytails and everyone joined in to count down to the moment she cut them all off. We were both quite nervous but our pupils held our hands throughout.”
Despite the drastic new look, the teachers have embraced it.
Louisa added: “It feels wonderful. I went out for a run the morning after and loved that my hair wasn’t getting in my eyes and it only takes two minutes to have a shower now! “I didn’t know how I would feel afterwards but everyone has been very complimentary and telling us how lovely our eyes look.”
The determined duo have surpassed their original £200 target.
Louisa added: “The support from everyone has been phenomenal. So many people, including many of the pupils and parents, rallied around to make cakes for us to sell during the head shave, which helped us to raise over £500 alone. Many of the pupils also made posters and cards for the event.”
Not content in just raising money, the pair have donated their locks to the Little Princess Trust, which makes wigs for children and young adults who have sadly lost their own hair due to cancer treatment and other illnesses.
Monica Glass, charity manager for The Little Princess Trust, said: “We are so grateful to Louisa and to Rachel for choosing to support the charity in this way. We will really benefit from their hair donations.
“Together they are both really making a difference and will most certainly make a young person experiencing hair loss, feel so much better at such a very difficult time. Thank you!”
For more information about both great causes, visit: www.bravetheshave.macmillan.org.uk and www.littleprincesses.org.uk
If you would like to donate, visit:www.justgiving.com/fundraising/louisa-lonsdale1