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More than 60 girls at a Redlands school have shed their ponytails to raise an incredible $54,781 for Mater breast cancer patients.
A team of six stylists took to the stage at Ormiston College to give the Year 12 students their dramatic new looks in a 30-minute snip-athon on Thursday 16 October.
‘The Chop’ is an annual tradition at the school, with hair donated by the girls used to make wigs for women suffering hair loss during cancer treatment.
Each of the 64 students in this year’s event sought donations from family and friends to support Mater Chicks in Pink, which funds breast cancer research, services and equipment at Mater hospitals across Queensland.
It was an emotional experience for the students, as well as Ormiston College teacher Peta Raftery, who underwent treatment for breast cancer at Mater Private Hospital Redland last year.
“I noticed a lump in my breast and immediately went to see my GP, who sent me for a mammogram and ultrasound,” Ms Raftery said.
“Dr Jason Lambley at Mater Private Hospital Redland was amazing, so kind and understanding, and the Mater staff wrapped their arms around with kindness and care.”
Ms Raftery underwent a lumpectomy and now has no evidence of disease, but her doctors remain vigilant.
She spoke about her experience with students at the event and thanked them for their support of breast cancer patients.
“What the girls are doing – giving of themselves for people they don’t know – is amazing,” she said.
“I am so proud of them.”
Mater Private Hospital Redland Breast Care Nurse Janice Butler, who treated Ms Raftery, helped cut the hair of the first ‘Chop’ participants.
“It is incredible to see these wonderful young people come together to support women living with breast cancer,” Ms Butler said.
“The money raised for Mater Chicks in Pink will make a real difference to these women.”
Mater Chicks in Pink helps to fund support services for breast cancer patients at Mater hospitals across Queensland.
It recently supported the purchase of a new Faxitron Trident HD radiography system at Mater Private Hospital Redland, which improves the accuracy of breast cancer surgery.
The first ‘Chop’ was held in 2015 and since then Ormiston College students have raised $294,000 for Mater Chicks in Pink.
School leaders thanked stylists from The Hair Chapel and C’ba Hair for volunteering their time to support the event.
