In a setting where most children are afraid to ‘be different’, a brave little girl morphed from ‘normal’ to indeed ‘different’ right in front of her peers’ eyes, and was applauded for it.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Up on stage in a packed hall of the Eden Public School, Hunter Upton had her head shaved of its golden locks today, Monday May 23, after the successful completion of her fundraising campaign for the Starlight Foundation.
Hundreds of children witnessed the event, most with eyes bulging and mouths agape, many boasting odd hair dos of their own in a show of support, but all the attention did not weaken Hunter’s resolve.
“I’m very nervous, but I’m very proud of myself,” Hunter said before the hair shave began.
She had every reason to be, having raised over $2000 for the Starlight Foundation; double the amount of her original target.
Principal Tanja Vogt congratulated Hunter by acknowledging “an outstanding effort by one little girl from Eden Public School” while Mum Julie Staight commented proudly that her daughter “has been waiting for this moment for years”.
With electric shaver set on a number 3 buzz-cut, Cheveux on Twofold hairdresser Megan Adams began the historic hair shave.
As the locks began to fall, a tear-jerking moment was the singing of “Happy Birthday” by the entire school, celebrating the fact that the day is also Hunter’s ninth birthday.
It took less than five minutes for Hunter’s transformation to be complete, and the hall erupted in thunderous applause as the freshly buzzed Hunter stood before her friends looking beautiful and slightly shy with her new ‘look’.
Next on stage was staff member Carol Ahern, who joined Hunter’s campaign two weeks ago to help in the fundraising push.
Ms Ahern was also inspired by her own personal experience with the Starlight Foundation, which is dedicated to maximising comfort and happiness for hospitalised children.
“When one of our daughters was hospitalised at the age of four with a blood disorder, a kind nurse realised her distress and quietly rolled in a huge life-size purple robotic looking contraption, which I thought was some new-fandangled medical machine with a screen and buttons,” Ms Ahern said.
“She then proceeded to insert a DVD for (my daughter) to watch movies on. We were eternally grateful to that nurse as it made our daughter's stay much more tolerable.”
As soon as her head was shaved, Ms Ahern hugged Hunter and the two stood smiling, both obviously thrilled with all they’d achieved.
“I want to thank everyone for their support,” Hunter said. “And I hope other people do it too.”
Related stories: