Bay pair to lose hair for sick kids

Nikki Worthington is shaving her hair off to raise money for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand. Photo / George Novak

Two brave Bay residents are giving up their hair as part of the Shave for a Cure fundraiser.

Mum-of-two, Nikki Worthington, and 9-year-old Oscar Maybury will be shaving their heads as part of Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand's Shave for a Cure fundraiser in early April.

Ms Worthington, a horticulture student, said she had considered doing it before but never made the commitment.

"It was something I've always wanted to do.

"I've known friends and family that have had cancer," she said.

"I can't afford to donate so I'm doing the shave instead."

Ms Worthington, 30, said she also wanted to do it to set an example for her 6-year-old twin daughters.

She hoped to teach them the value of doing something for others and that "not everyone has a choice whether to lose their hair".

While her daughters were concerned about how she would look with no hair, she was not.

"I tend to change my hair quite a lot," she said.

"I'm pretty okay with it. It's only hair, it'll grow back."

She planned to have friends each shave a strip of her hair at home on April 8 and hoped to raise $500.

Year 5 Pahoia School pupil, Oscar, will be shaving his hair off for the cause for the second year in a row.

"I don't like seeing people with cancer that are really sick and I want to try to help them," he said.

Grandfather Dave Maybury said Oscar called him up last year after seeing an ad for the campaign and asked if he thought it was a good idea.

"I said, 'what makes you want to do that?' He said, 'I feel really sorry for those children'."

Oscar said he managed to raise more than $800 last year and this year he hoped to get $1000 before his shave on April 6.

He has been growing his hair out in anticipation of this year's event.

"I've got a mullet. It goes down to the top of my shirt," he said.

Mum Rebecca Manson said he was adamant about not cutting his hair between shaves.

"He's been wanting to grow his hair since last year. I managed to hold him down and cut it once. I'm looking forward to the shave," she said.

She said she was "extremely proud" of her son, who is the middle of three siblings.

"It's super cool that a 9-year-old even considers doing something like this. He's definitely a kid who thinks of others."

- Go to http://my.leukaemia.net.nz/OSCARMAYBURY or http://my.leukaemia.net.nz/Nikkiw to donate.