Bella razors $1600 for cancer society

by Genevieve Helliwell | 24th November 2009

As Bella Andrews sat down to get her head shaved yesterday, the 14-year-old wasn't thinking about what she would look like with no hair.

She was thinking about the $1600 she had raised for the cancer society.

In front of her mother and about 200 of her peers at Tauranga Girls' College, Bella shaved off her strawberry-blonde locks.

"It's been something I've been wanting to do for so long now," said Bella. "The cancer society has been amazing for my family when my Mum was sick, they've given us so much so I wanted to give something back to them," she said.

Shaving off her hair  has been  on her mind since her mother, Jill Shannon, was diagnosed with a rare bone marrow cancer four-and-a-half years ago.

Bella and Jill contacted Colleen Kendrick from the Cancer Society about six months ago and pitched the idea to her.

Mrs Kendrick said something like this is pretty unheard of, especially for a young girl.

"Most people are preoccupied with how they look and this just goes to show what an incredible person Bella is. It's huge for a young person to do this and it's a big thing for Jill to let her do this as well," said Colleen. "Bella has such beautiful hair and she's giving an amazing gift."

As Jill took the first cut of Bella's mid-length hair, she hesitated but only for a moment.

"I was really nervous but very excited," said Mrs Shannon. "I think she's really brave and not many people would do this kind of thing."

One of Bella's best friends, Aimee McIntyre-Burgess, said she wouldn't cut off her own hair but is supporting Bella in her fundraising campaign. "She is such an amazing person and I think she will look amazing bald," she said.

As her locks dropped off, the crowd clapped and cheered. Fifteen minutes later, Bella was bald. When she saw herself in the reflection of a window, her first comment was, "Oh my gosh I'm bald", followed by "I look amazing", to which Aimee agrees.

"She does look amazing. Not many people could pull it off but she can."

Bella's hair will go to Hair Creations in Auckland and will be used to repair damaged wigs. "Hair is a huge thing for cancer victims so we're donating my hair so other people can use it." 

Principal of Tauranga Girls' College, Pauline Cowens, said Bella was doing "a very brave thing" for a worthy cause.