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March 13, 2008

Teachers make hairy wager

Educators to shave heads for Relay for Life

Scott Teague

Teachers at Eagle Ridge Elementary School are putting their hair, and their pride, on the line this month for the school’s Relay for Life team.

Susie Burns and Joe Metzker have thrown down their gauntlets, challenging their students to raise $1,000 to battle cancer. If the school raises the money the teachers will shave their heads of every last hair.

“They dared me, and you just don’t dare me,” Burns said about her first grade students. “I don’t know how else to raise $1,000 for cancer research. I can’t give up a cookie, I love them too much, but I can cut my hair.”

Her colleague already lost his wager with the students. Metzker told students he’d shave his trademark curly hair if they raised $500. To date, students have raised $882 or 88,200 pennies.

“If you picture Napoleon Dynamite, he’s got that kind of haircut,” said Brit Randolph, the school’s team co-captain and a severe/profound PEC teacher.

It was Randolph’s idea to hold this year’s fundraiser for Relay for Life.

“I graduated from Georgia College & State University last year, and we did Penny Wars on campus with different organizations. I just altered the details of it and brought it to the elementary school level,” the first-year teacher said. “We figured that every child, whether their family is well-off or not, could find a penny on the ground and bring it in and feel like they contributed.”

Students have been donating their pennies since Feb. 11, dropping their little copper-color coins in their classroom’s donation jug every morning. Randolph takes the coins to MidSouth Bank and uses their coin-counter free of charge since the money goes toward Relay for Life.

This week is the last week for students to donate, and teachers hope to top the $1,000 mark by close of school Friday.

“They’re all excited,” Burns said about her student’s enthusiasm to see her bald. “They’re proud of me. I’m going to let them dye my hair purple the day before they shave it off.”

One of Burns’ students, Willie Scott, said Thursday during class how proud he is of her.

“I think she’s pretty brave. She’s getting her head shaved and she’s a girl,” Willie said.

Burns is no stranger to the disease, and strongly supports the cause to battle cancer.

“I’ve got several people in my life [who’ve dealt with cancer]. This year, my dear sister and a friend went through double mastectomies,” Burns said.

To donate to the school’s Relay for Life team or for more information, call Eagle Ridge Elementary School at (478) 457-2967.

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