Ormiston College has celebrated a decade of fundraising in support of women with breast cancer. Known as The Chop, this highly anticipated event saw 53 students in a powerful display of solidarity and support donating their ponytails and raising funds for Mater Chicks in Pink. This year's event exceeded all expectations, bypassing the original target of $50,000 and raising over $57,000. Since the event’s inception, the school has raised over $240,000 to support women with breast cancer.
Originally launched in 2015 by Prefects Michaela Mulder and India Hedger in response to Michaela’s mother's battle with breast cancer, this event has become a highlight of the school calendar and has grown in participation over the years. Michaela returned this year along with 2015 College Captain, Dr Keely Lynch, not only to celebrate the tenth annual event but also participated by cutting their hair alongside the students. The inaugural event in 2015, saw $18,000 raised, which contributed to the donation of two chemotherapy infusion chairs to the local Redland Mater hospital. Reflecting on The Chop, Michaela shared her amazement at how the event has grown and she expressed her gratitude for the ongoing commitment of the students and community in raising funds.
The 2024 Service Leadership prefects, Summer Brown and Isabella Kesur, opened this year’s event, highlighting how deeply personal this event is for many. "This cause is very close to my heart, and I am so proud of all the Year 12 girls, and the wider community who have donated," said Isabella.
Local hairdressers from The Hair Chapel, Get Goddess Hair & Beauty, and C'Ba Hair generously volunteered their time to cut the students hair which was donated to Sustainable Salons.
“Sustainable Salons sends the ponytails directly to wigmakers and organisations such as the Australia Alopecia Areata Foundation (AAAF) to be made into charitable wigs,” advised Craig Hislop, Sustainable Salons Customer Services Manager. He went on to say, “Hair that is too short to be used in wigs can be used in soil treatments, graphite and to create hair booms to soak up oil in coastline spills.”
Georgia Quinn, Mater Foundation Community Relations and Events Organiser accepted a cheque on behalf of Mater Chicks in Pink. This organisation aims to support women with breast cancer by providing breast cancer support services and funding life-saving breast cancer research.
Headmaster Brett Webster remarked, “We are incredibly proud of our Service Leadership Prefects and the Year 12 Girls who bravely stepped forward to participate in this year’s The Chop and making it such a successful event.”
The young women who participated not only raised vital funds but also highlighted the importance of community support for those facing cancer showing that together we can make a meaningful impact in the fight against breast cancer.
