Whanganui mum overwhelmed with pride as daughter shaves hair off for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer NZ

Emersyn's mum Emma Masson-Oakden said that her daughter was shaking with nervousness before the big chop. Photo / Aidan McGrath

Overwhelming pride.

That is what Emma Masson-Oakden felt when her daughter Emersyn McCook-Oakden told her she was cutting off all her hair in support of Leukaemia and Blood Cancer NZ.

It was Shave for a Cure week and Emersyn, 8, was sitting in a chair at Monaghans Barbershop with Josh Sharkey ready to shave her hair off free of charge.

Masson-Oakden said that tears were shed.

"She was shaking to begin with, she was pretty nervous, but afterwards she told me that she just kept thinking about the kids she would be helping by raising money.

"I was really proud because she knew it could help other kids. She kept relating it back to kids her age having leukaemia and not having the choice of losing their hair or not."

Emersyn kept thinking about the kids she was helping as Monaghans barber Josh Sharkey shaved her hair off. Photo / Aidan McGrath

Emersyn, a student at Durie Hill School, was inspired to participate in Shave for a Cure after she saw an ad for it on TV when she was ready to get a haircut anyway.

After making the decision, she managed to raise almost $1100 for the cause through a page on the Shave for a Cure website and a bake sale at the Whanganui River Markets.

Masson-Oakden said she was amazed at the total.

"Originally Emersyn said she wanted to get to $1000 and I thought that was a great total, but I didn't think we'd get to that," she said.

"The money just rolled in, people are so generous."

Emersyn follows in the footsteps of Carlton School students Maddison Williams, 9, who shaved her hair for the same cause and Andi-Lee Duncan, 10, who had hers shaved for Cancer Society at the Whanganui Relay For Life.

"It's been a really good way for Emersyn to think outside of our family square, thinking about what she can do to help others in the community and realising how fortunate she is," Masson-Oakden said.

"There are lots of kids in families that are affected by leukaemia and other cancers, so I think it was just a good eye-opening experience for all of us."

The end result. Emersyn raised almost $1100 as part of Shave for a Cure. Photo / Aidan McGrath