TEN years ago, Ormiston College’s Michaela Mulder and school captain Keely Lynch got their hair cut. A decade later, they are back on school grounds watching others do the same.
It was Michaela and fellow student India Hedger who started what is now known as “The Chop”, a charity haircut event raising awareness and funding for breast cancer.
The original event surpassed the girls’ fundraising goal of $7000 by more than double. The funds were used to buy a chemotherapy chair for the Redlands Hospital.
What they thought would be a one-off charity act has snowballed into an annual event for the Year 12 girls at Ormiston College who have raised in excess of $240,000 since its inauguration, and counting.
This year, 53 Year 12s put their hand up to chop off their ponytails, raising nearly $58,000 for the Mater Foundation.
One in seven women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, data from the National Breast Cancer Foundation shows. Research into its prevention, early detection and improved treatment has squashed the fatality rate of breast cancer by 40% over the past 20 years.
Even so, the foundation says “there’s still progress to be made”.
College prefect Isabella Kesur said the Year 12s’ selfless act would make an incredible difference in aiding personalised, practical support services for patients and funding life-saving breast cancer research.
“In this cohort, and in the wider (Ormiston College) community, several of us have had parents, grandparents and loved ones that have gone through a breast cancer diagnosis,” Isabella said.
Attending The Chop on the day, a sense of closeness and support for those having experienced the effects of breast cancer was felt.
“After experiencing what it is like to have a family member go through treatment, and regularly be in and out of hospital, it has really made me realise the importance of being grateful for those around you, and cherishing your time spent with your loved ones,” Isabella said.
