Westport students shave their heads to fundraise for Mayo charity

Approximately Westport students have shaved their locks to raise over €2,100 for Mayo Roscommon Hospice.

Large numbers gathered to watch their fellow students take the plunge last week for what has become an annual event in the Westport school.

The students have already raised over €2,100 through online donations along and from the raffle held in the school on the day. Their iDonate page will remain open until December 8.

Four students who undertook the Shave or Dye, Felix Zeray, Seán Keane, Séimí Noone and Alan Mortimer, were upbeat when they spoke to The Mayo News after they got the sheers.

“It feels good actually,” said Seán Keane.

Elaine Ferguson, guidance counsellor at Rice College, told The Mayo News that the initiative was student-driven.

“We have a TY wellbeing team and the students have led this event from the beginning. They have organised all of the equipment, they have organised all of the spot prizes… they have organised all of the practical things and the fun aspect of it as well,” Ms Ferguson explained.

“The student voice is important here in Rice College and we want to equip our students with skills that they can use for the future, and leadership skills is one of those that is important to us.”

Ms Ferguson said the school staff were ‘so proud of the way they organised the event and everything in the leadup to it’.