Charity cut for Masterton student

HAIR TODAY GONE TOMORROW: Feeling cooler after having his head shaved for cancer is Ryan Storey, 17.

There was no special reason for Ryan Storey to cut his hair.

But a worthy cause persuaded the Masterton teenager to sacrifice five years of golden growth.

He shaved his hair at the weekend to raise money for Shave 4 a Cure.

The 17-year-old Wairarapa College student organised a squash tournament and auction, culminating at the end of the day in his long hair being shaved off by the highest bidder, local shearer Peter Clendon, who paid $55 for the honour.

His plan was to raise $2000 but, before his locks were even clipped, he had surpassed the target by $500.

By the end of the night on Saturday, the teenager had raised a total of $3120 in his Shave 4 a Cure effort at Redstar Squash Club.

Ryan said he hadn't had a haircut since he was 11 and, although he doesn't know of anyone who had died from a cancer-related illness or who has cancer, he thought it was a worthy cause to clip his long strawberry blond locks for.

Raising a good amount of money, he also donated his curly hair to be made into a wig for a cancer patient. Hair donated for a wig needs to be 35cm or longer, so Ryan's hair qualified.

"I just thought it was a good cause, a worthy cause helping people," he said.

As for the new look, the teenager did not have second thoughts in the minutes leading up to Tonz Hairdresser's owner Tony Alsworth clipping his hair off with scissors prior to the shave.

More than 60 people piled into the clubrooms to encourage Ryan, who is a member of the club and the 2013 junior squash champion.

"I'm not too worried about it. Some people say they can't imagine it gone. They will see a new side to me now. Some of my friends will be disappointed. It's just hair - hair coming off for a good cause," he said.

His mother Veronica Ordish is one proud parent.

"It's been all his own idea," she said. "All the people over the years who have told him to cut it, they can cough up and donate."

It seemed fitting local shearer, Mr Clendon secured the honor of shaving Ryan with his the winning bid at Greek auction, where everyone pays what they bid. The Greek auction raised about $200 while another auction raised about $420.

"I'll have to whip out to the car and get my hand-clippers," Mr Clendon said as the crowd roared with laughter. Delighted comments rang from the crowd of supporters, with many saying "he looks so different".

Following the event, Ryan commented on the cool autumn breeze felt on his newly shaved dome. "It's freezing."