Students and teachers at Amity Middle School, Orange Campus, planned their fourth annual St. Baldrick's Day fundraising event well in advance.
One student raised more than $400 before the big day on Monday (April 30).
This year the four girls who agreed to shave their heads for the St. Baldrick's foundation — to help raise money to prevent childhood cancer — were first to go up front and center and hear the buzz of the razor.
Everyone hooted and and cheered for these young women who were brave and got shaved for the cause, but it was the next volunteer donor who stepped forward to offer up a gift that stole strangers' hearts.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Interested in Orange's news, events, community bulletins, blogs and businesses? Sign up for the free Orange Patch daily newsletter, "like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Fast Forward to Caroline ...
"Caroline" was the oldest female participant: She has no ties to the school, she isn't a Middle Schooler's grandma or aunt. She's just a woman who came to the school about a month ago for the mineral and gem show and read the St. Baldrick's banners and posters and decided to donate her long salt and pepper hair so it can be used to make a wig for a cancer patient in need.
At about 18" long in the neat single braid that she always wears, Caroline's hair is actually much longer and she's been growing it for longer than most of the Middle School Students had been alive.
First the hairdresser cut the braid off, then she trimmed Caroline's remaining hair in a Dutchboy cut.
Caroline's gift left an impression upon the spectators and organizers who watched as she handed in her long braid, straightened her jacket and left the building without fanfare.
She may not have said more than a couple of words to anyone, but Caroline left many at the Middle School with a positive lasting memory.
