The gymnasium of Cayman International School was packed with supporters Wednesday to bear witness to at least 14 students and teachers shaving their heads as a sign of solidarity and support for children fighting cancer, who would often lose their hair following chemotherapy.
The school was hosting its own satellite ‘Big Shave’ event, for the first time, in the lead up to Friday’s annual Hannah’s Heroes Big Shave, one of the most successful fundraisers in Cayman for the St Baldrick’s foundation, the largest private funder of childhood cancer research.
The CIS satellite shave was coordinated by high school students Allie Capasso, Aleena Danter and Charli Foster, who are also survivors of childhood cancer. Their mission was to raise awareness and funds for research for the foundation.
Foster said the CIS shave was inspiring. “It really shows how much the CIS community cares and it’s great to see everybody coming together just to support a really great cause,” she said.
Two by two, participants stepped onto the platform, sat down, and were draped with hairdressing capes by local barbers before receiving their life-changing haircuts. Some were full of nerves, while others were more than excited to see the hair falling from their heads. It was a resounding applause from the student body after each participant presented their transformative look.
There were last-minute participants who opted not to shave their head, but to cut their long tresses instead.
Looking on with smiles and cheers was 16-year-old Hannah Meeson, the inspiration for a decade of Big Shaves. Hannah was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a type of brain cancer, in 2012. On Wednesday at CIS, she was standing alongside her mother Gaylene Meeson, who is founder of Hannah’s Heroes. During her remarks, Hannah thanked everyone for their support.
After the shave, Gaylene told the Compass the event was overwhelming.
“I go about everywhere trying to spread awareness, trying to get the next generation to be more aware of children and the suffering and the fact that there’s a lack of research, and, attending the CIS event, I’m blown away that the whole school has got behind this passion and mission I have that we need to raise awareness. Because if we can do that, we can get more funding, and if we can get more funding, we can get more research and save lives,” she said.
Among the participants who took part in the shave were Tommy, the youngest member of the team; Grade 6 student, Jordan J, who raised more than $1,500 in one day; and Grade 7 science teacher Mike Neeland.
For 14-year-old Grade 9 student, Mason McDonald, this was his second time doing the shave.
Mason said he’s happy because he helps raise money to cure childhood cancer, “It was cool to do it here because all your friends can watch and support you, so then, hopefully, it grows the cause. I loved the support from my friends, and they said it [my hair] looks fine and they were really nice about it,” he said.
Andie Urquhart, CIS Middle School counsellor, who also took part in the shave, said her support was for the many childhood cancer survivors among the student body.
“I feel very blessed to be part of an event that not only raises awareness of and funds for childhood cancer, but also, I think the event is a vehicle for our young learners to develop empathy and understanding for what others may be going through,” she said.
“When we are exposed at a young age to positive human interactions of kindness, support, generosity, and empathy, we are gaining valuable lessons that will hopefully transfer into our youth growing up to be well-rounded, giving human beings, who are interested in making the world a better place to live for everyone in it,” she said.
The fundraising effort by the school raised $14, 236, and the DART organisation matched the funds that were raised.
“This year’s fundraising efforts have taken funds raised since 2013 past the US$3 million fundraising goal,” a Hannah’s Heroes press release said. The 11th annual Hannah’s Heroes Big Shave fundraising event will be held this Friday, 29 Sept., at The Brasserie, Cricket Square from 5pm to 9pm.
To join the event or for more information, email [email protected] or visit Hannah’s Heroes – The Big Shave, a St. Baldrick’s Event.
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