Every day, 47 Australians are diagnosed with blood cancer. That’s one Aussie every 31 minutes. Right now, over 110,000 Australians are living with a form of blood cancer or blood-related disorder.

The whole school turned out in the sunshine to support the brave individuals who had signed up to have their heads shaved. Huge thanks to hairdressers Alana and Nathalia from the Albany Classix Salon in the Plaza who gave up their time to come in and shave the heads of all the participants. Without their skill and expertise, the event would not have been as successful as it was.

A big thank you to the prefects who helped organise the event, providing the music and food for the occasion. Adrian and Kristy Benson from Domino’s Pizza very generously donated pizzas to be sold to raise funds for the cause, and Woolworths supplied sausages for the sausage sizzle.  Some of the prefects made cakes and ran a stall, and offered brightly coloured hair spraying for a gold coin donation.  Thanks to all the students who supported the event, and helped contribute to the excellent total collected on the day of close to $1100.00.

Of course, the event would also not be possible without the commitment of the staff and students who signed up to be part of the ‘ASHS Life Shavers’ team, fundraising online and having their heads shaved on the day. Between them, these nine people raised more than $7500.00, and a number of the students also had their long hair cut off as ponytails which will be donated for making wigs for cancer sufferers who have lost their hair during chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment. Well done to all the ‘ASHS Life Shavers’ team: Year 12s Larni Ramsell, Zoe Taylor and Zac Benson; Year 10s Harry Knowlson and Toby Cook; Year 8 Flynn Catanach; Alaia Williams from Year 7 and staff members Mr Longworth and Mr Ellis.

A grand total of $8500.00 has been donated to the Leukaemia Foundation to help support the vital work they do in giving families facing blood cancer the emotional and practical support they need. It will go a long way in helping to fund vital research into breakthrough therapies, treatments and diagnostic techniques.