Somersfield Students and Staff Brave the Razor for Cancer Research

Shaving for a good cause: Somersfield's teachers Brice Pursell and Lee-Anne Cox with some of the student shavees. From left to right: Michael Costello, Matthew Elliott, Kairo Morton, Nicholas Kempe, and Daniel Larson.

June 12, 2014 — Kind-hearted students, teachers and parents from Somersfield Academy are volunteering to have their heads shaved to raise money for cancer research.

A group of 14 youngsters and adults from the school will brave the razor during assembly on June 24 in support of the St Baldrick’s Foundation.

More than $15,000 has been pledged for the shaving so far.

The event is part of Somersfield’s Community and Service Day and the volunteers say the head-shaving will help to raise money and awareness while showing their solidarity with those who suffer hair loss through chemotherapy treatment.

School counsellor Melissa Judd said: “Action through service is a key component of an IB-MYP education at Somersfield Academy.

“IB (International Baccalaureate) learners strive to be caring members of the local community who demonstrate a personal commitment to service, and act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and to the environment.

“Through responsible action, Somersfield students develop the kinds of attributes that are essential for success in life.”

Other charitable events as part of the Community and Service Day include 130 middle year students taking part in a three-mile walk-a-thon and more than 40 youngsters giving out UV bracelets to the community as part of Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre’s SunSmart skin cancer awareness programme.

Even the school’s youngest pupils are keen to help, with those aged three to six carrying out chores at home for $1 a task.

They will also collect trash and make a donation to St Baldrick’s for every bag.

A Wacky Hair Day on the last day of term will further boost donations, with pupils donating $2 to attend school in crazy hairstyles, colours or wigs.

Bermuda’s main St Baldrick’s events were staged in March but lead organiser Tracey Gibbons said the charity welcomed contributions at any time.

“Many Somersfield students and staff have generously supported St Baldrick’s in the past and this year they wanted to involve the whole school, so we came up with the idea of making it the focus of the school’s Community and Service Day,” she said.

“That way, students who want to contribute but don’t want to be shaved can support their friends and be involved in a meaningful way.”

Mrs Gibbons, a Somersfield parent and senior vice-president with Allied World Reinsurance, will be among those being shaved and is having her hair dyed green and blue — Somersfield’s school colours — for the occasion. Her son Toby, 11, is also having his head shaved.

Since 2005, the St Baldrick’s Foundation has funded more than $127 million in research grants to find a cure for childhood cancers.

Worldwide, a child is diagnosed with cancer every three minutes and more children are lost to cancer than any other disease.

To sponsor the Somersfield Academy team or an individual, visit www.stbaldricks.org/events/mypage/11223/2014

Originally published in The Royal Gazette.