MANY 11-year-old girls would shudder at the thought of losing their long locks.
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But not Violet Street Primary School student Stephanie Phillips.
Stephanie bravely participated in the World's Greatest Shave on Friday, getting a number one clip to raise money for cancer research and support.
Dad Grant Phillips said Stephanie came up with the idea herself.
"She's been very adult about it," Mr Phillips said.
"She had her heart set on doing it and manged to raise a lot of funds from it.
"As her father, I'm very impressed that she's done something so good for such a good cause."
One of Stephanie's main motivators was the fact two of her teachers were undergoing treatments for cancer last year.
She had made up her mind to participate in the shave about a year ago, and followed through with her goal.
At an age when many children feel self-conscious about standing out from their peer group, Stephanie was happy to take on a leadership role and not afraid to be the only girl with a shaved head in the playground.
Violet Street Primary School principal John Scobie said the staff and students were thrilled with Stephanie's achievement.
"She's been really courageous," he said.
He said the two staff members who had been sick were touched by Stephanie's efforts.
"They were thrilled she was prepared to have her considerably long hair cut off as a sign of support," he said.
She had her heart set on doing it.
- Grant Phillips
The shave took place in front of an excited school assembly, and while Stephanie was the only one to undergo the razor, the rest of the students attended school with weird and wonderful hairstyles.
Stephanie raised $2700 from her shave.