Natasha's waist length hair to go for a good cause

Te Puke High School student Natasha Henderson is losing her locks in a Shave for a Cure event at the school on Friday.

Natasha Henderson isn't the only one who will miss her hair after it is buzzed away.

The 14-year-old's almost waist-length locks will be no more as she joins other Te Puke High School students in a Shave for a Cure head shave at lunchtime tomorrow.

''It's a pretty hard decision because it's not just me, lots of people love my hair,' she says.

''But I want to show that hair doesn't define beauty and to show people you can be beautiful without hair - because some people don't have a choice.''

Natasha's mum Kelly has mixed feelings - she is proud of her daughter's courage and reasons for having her head shaved, but admits she has reservations about it.

School guidance counsellor Mark Bramley says around 15 students have put their name down for the head shave - but Natasha, so far, is the only girl. He is also going to sit in the hairdresser's chair and hopes other staff members might do the same.

All the ''victims'' are collecting money for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand.

Natasha has a fundraising Facebook page at www.facebook.com/donate/1975260436070400/