TWO Alton College students have become “bald role models” after having their heads shaved in the to raise money for Teens Unite.
It is the only charity in the UK to provide ongoing support to 13-24 year olds fighting cancer, from diagnosis through to post-remission.
The students are Lisa Walker, 18, who lives in Liphook, a former Bohunt School pupil, who is studying maths, further maths and physics A-Level, and her friend Miumiu Li, also 18, an international student from China who lives in Fleet and is studying maths, further maths, and physics.
A crowd of students gathered in the college refectory last Friday and watched as the girls bravely had their heads shaved. By the end of thew hair-raising experience, they had raised £944 and are still working toward their £1.000 target.
Lisa, who had almost waist length hair, is donating it to the Little Princess Charity which makes wigs for children with cancer and who lose their hair through chemotherapy treatment.
Speaking of raising money for Teen Unite, Lisa said: “We so wanted to help young people going through a really hard time. It’s hard to imagine having a life-limiting illness, especially at this age, and we wish to support those in need as well as inspiring others to do similar.”
She added: “Teens Unite is a wonderful charity that provides ongoing, long-term support for teenagers whether they are undergoing treatment or in remission. One of Teens Unite’s main goals is to give teenagers strength and courage and make them realise they are not alone.
“Therefore, we also want to normalise the ‘bald’ look so that people without a choice don’t have to feel ashamed about having no hair.
“We hope to be role models, and being able to shave all our hair off is an empowering thing to do either way.”
The two girls are still fundraising for Teens Unite via the website justgiving.com/lisamiumiu.