Trinity Anglican School student Aurelia Wood and her peers raise $25,000 for cancer survivors

Cairns teenagers have shown how young people can inspire change after raising a mammoth total. How their principal reacted.

TRINITY Anglican School students have raised a humungous total of $25,000 for cancer research in their annual donation drive for the Cancer Council’s Ponytail Project.

“We’ve been raising money for two months. It’s been completely student-led,” school captain Aurelia Wood said.

“We’ve had some generous donations by businesses, families and friends.”

Fifteen students and three teachers inspired the drive by promising to chop off their hair when the target amount was reached. They fulfilled their promise on Friday.

Wigs for cancer survivors will be constructed from the donated locks.

Ms Wood, who donated 60cm in length, had been growing her hair since she witnessed senior students contribute to the same cause in 2017. But now she was leading the effort, and something personal was motivating her benevolent spirit.

TAS school captain Aurelia Wood with her locks to be donated to the Ponytail Project. Picture: Romy Photography

In just two years, Ms Wood lost five people – family members and former teachers – to cancer.

“Seeing people go through it reminded me that life is so valuable and we need to raise money to help these people,” she said.

“If anyone in our school community was diagnosed, I hope theses funds make a difference.”

TAS school principal Paul Sjogren (left) with dyed hair. Picture: Romy Photography

Tears welled in the eyes of TAS teacher Jennifer Fukushima, who also donated her hair, as she reflected upon the generosity of the students.

“This makes me feel so proud. The whole giving spirit is part of the school’s beliefs and it’s a path we encourage the students to follow,” she said.

But perhaps the most engrossing spectacle of the day was an admission by the TAS principal Paul Sjogren that his doubts, concerning the ability of the students to raise anything more than $20,000, were built on shaky ground.

Never has a doubter been so humbled since Saint Thomas stood before a resurrected Jesus.

For his sins, Mr Sjogren was made to dye his hair.

Originally published as Trinity Anglican School student Aurelia Wood and her peers raise $25,000 for cancer survivors