Head-shaving has become an annual tradition at one Hong Kong school,
where brave students raise money for cancer research, writes
Katrina Shute
.
F
or the past few months,
everywhere you look at Hong
Kong International School (HKIS),
there is a bald kid walking
around, going about his or her business.
For students and teachers, it’s such a
common sight, no one bothers to look
twice.
The reason behind the mass
shave of 71 students, seven teachers
and six parents is the school’s annual
St. Baldrick’s event. In return for
donations, the volunteers commit to
going bald, as a show of solidarity
with children who lose their hair
during cancer treatment. This year,
shavees collectively raised more than
$1,000,000 for local research projects
into childhood cancer.
“Each year in Hong Kong up to 200
children are diagnosed with cancer;
each month, five of them will lose their
battle,” says organiser Richard Kligler.
“Money raised through St. Baldrick’s has
funded 16 local research projects, with
great strides made towards increasing
the life expectancy of children with
cancer.”
The school has a strong
commitment to the event, largely
attributed to the passing of ten-year-
old student Carlo Santiago from
cancer in 2011. A year earlier, at the
2010 St. Baldrick’s, Carlo was on stage
strumming Eric Clapton’s “Tears in
Heaven” on his guitar, to wild applause.
A year later, 47 classmates shaved their
heads in his memory and honour.
All up, more than 700 HKIS students
have willingly gone under the razor.
While most of the participating
students are boys – whose hair grows
back in a few months – every year sees
a handful of courageous girls taking
part. For them, it could take several
years to grow their hair back to its
original length. They also need to deal
with the reactions from strangers in the
meantime.
“At school, no one looks at me
weirdly because everyone knows
about St. Baldrick’s,” says 12-year-old
Sydney Sereci. “But when I’m outside,
like at the shops or in Central, I get
some really strange looks. I think some
people think I have cancer, because
when they look at me they look away
really quickly or just stare.”
Sydney personally raised $7,000 to
have her long locks shaved, alongside
her two brothers. A large crowd of
friends and family surrounded the
stage to cheer her on as her hair fell to
the floor. “It was really overwhelming,”
she says. “My friends were so proud
of me, and I got so many supportive
messages. Now everyone can’t stop
touching my head.”
Mum Jennifer says it’s been an
unusual experience being out and
about in Hong Kong with Sydney since
Education
in empathy
her head was shaved. “It’s been a
lesson in facial expressions and we’ve
seen them all,” she says. “Some people
do think Sydney is ill, and have reacted
with sensitivity and kindness, but others
think she is making some kind of fashion
statement. Hong Kong is full of different
races and cultures, and some find it
hard to understand why a young girl
would do this.”
While her mum has purchased
several hats to stop the stares, Sydney
doesn’t bother wearing them. She
realises she is being given a rare insight.
“It makes you feel, a tiny bit, what it
must be like for kids with cancer, always
getting weird looks and stuff.”
And would it stop her from shaving
her hair again? “No, I would do it
again,” says Sydney. “It’s just hair, and
if I can raise lots of money to help sick
kids, then why not?”
To donate to the St. Baldrick’s
foundation, go to
.
Sydney, centre, with her two brothers Dylan on the left, and Luka on the right
June 2014
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