Teacher and student to shave heads for charity

A student and teacher from Ridgeway School in Plympton have pledged to shave off their hair if fellow students and teachers can help them raise £500 for charity.

14 year old Maisie Smith and Jim Strachan, Head of Academic Progress for Years 8 & 9, are planning to have their locks shorn off next month, to raise money for Cancer Research.

“Lots of my friends have lost family members from cancer,” said Maisie. “It’s such a big thing and we need to raise as much money as we can. For me this is the first big fundraiser I have done but I hope to go on and do lots of others.”

The Year 9 pupil decided to have her hair shaved off as her long hair is important to her. “So by getting it shaved off I really feel like I am doing something memorable. My friends keep saying why not complete a marathon as you are a runner. I feel that by shaving my head it will affect me on a personal level and this is really important to me.”

When teacher Jim Strachan said he would join her Maisie was delighted. “I thought he was joking. But when he said he was serious I was so happy as it meant I didn’t have to face this alone,” she said.

The school is supporting Maisie and Mr Strachan with a cake sale, a mufti day and a teacher fun run with the actual head shave happening on July 8th. Local hairdresser, Kelly Brumhead from Therapy Hair and Beauty, will be going into school to cut their hair.

“I think this is a brave thing for them both to do but they are raising money for a very worthwhile charity and the whole school will be supporting them,” said Principal Lisa Boorman.