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Schools

Students, Staff Get Shorn for a Good Cause

Buffalo Grove High School students and faculty cut their locks, raised $2,300 to fight cancer.

Nicole Stevens cried as her once shoulder-length blonde hair tumbled to the floor Friday at .

Two friends at her side, a cafeteria full of screeching students, her older sister, Dana, and mom, Beth, watched as with each swipe of an electric razor the 15-year-old sophomore’s hairstyle went from beautiful to buzzed.

Although obviously traumatic, the head shaving was for a good cause; to raise money for the battle against cancer.

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Stevens was among five students and seven teachers and administrators who had their heads sheared during their lunch hour as the climax to the cancer awareness week sponsored by the sophomore class.

Money raised from the event will be donated to St. Baldrick's Foundation, a pediatric cancer research-funding and awareness-building organization.

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Students from the Empire Cosmetology School in Arlington Heights contributed their time and hair-cutting expertise.

Although most teenage girls would probably balk at having their hair cut off, Stevens didn’t hesitate when the opportunity presented itself.

Her grandfather died of cancer and her aunt is currently battling the disease, her mom said.

“She has a big heart,” Beth Stevens said. “When she brought me the permission slip, she said, ‘Mom, I’m gonna do this.’ I said, ‘No you aren’t,’ but she did it anyways.”

Nicole Stevens was the top fundraiser before the head buzzing, bringing in more than $1,000, said sophomore class sponsor and counselor Francesca Pecoraro. The total raised during the week was $2,300, Pecoraro said, although counting continued late Friday afternoon.

Stevens, who plays volleyball for Buffalo Grove, admitted to being “really nervous” before the cutting began.

“I wear it up every day,” she said, “so it doesn’t really matter.”

Friends Kate Shooley and Alaina Murphy were at Stevens’ side as the hair began falling. They shouted encouragement and said, “You look beautiful.”

After the cutting, Stevens admitted she was scared, but said the trauma “was worth it.”

Worth it in more ways than one, apparently.

After the event, sophomore Danny Boukas raced up to Stevens, gave her a big hug and asked her out, even though he expressed reservations about her new haircut.

“I don’t like it,” he said, “but it’s for a good cause.”

Stevens, by the way, accepted his invitation.

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