BHS unites to help student with cancer | News | Berkeley Independent

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BHS unites to help student with cancer

Published Tuesday, March 09, 2010 9:18 AM

By Stefan Rogenmoser
Berkeley Independent

photo by Stefan Rogenmoser

A volunteer shaves 2009 Berkeley High School graduate Haley Bunton’s hair.

photo by Stefan Rogenmoser

Ashley Smith at her fundraiser at Berkeley High School.

photo by Stefan Rogenmoser

Joseph Martin (left) and Christian Bowers (right) were two of 38 students who got their heads shaved to support Ashley Smith.

Nearly 500 Berkeley High School students gathered in the school auditorium on Feb. 19 to raise money and give emotional support to a fellow student. By the time school was out, $2,519 had been raised, and 38 students and six faculty members had the hair from their heads shaved.

Ashley Smith, 17, is a BHS senior. On Jan. 14 she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer. Chemotherapy treatments began in January and will continue through May.

Haley Bunton, a 2009 BHS graduate now attending Trident Technical College, is Smith’s best friend. Bunton wanted to shave her head to support her friend. Bunton and Smith organized a fundraiser after talking to school administrators. They called it “Bald is Beautiful.”

One female and one male teacher, Beth Birkhimer and Keith Yates, had their heads shaved because their classes raised the most money.

“It really hit me today,” assistant principal Brent Stone said at the podium. “I’ve never seen anyone with the determination Ashley has.”

Smith had chemotherapy Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and still came to the auditorium Friday, Stone said.

Smith spoke briefly, encouraging her fellow students to stay in school. Smith is on the homebound program for students unable to attend school for medical reasons.

A slideshow was presented by students. One slide read: “Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is part of your immune system. The cells that are in the lymphatic system grow abnormally and may spread beyond the lymphatic system. As it progresses, it compromises your body’s ability to fight infection.”

Then the projection screen rose and excitement roared through the auditorium as two rows with about 20 student each had their hair buzzed. Some students winced, closed their eyes, and let the clippers do their thing. For their effort to support Smith, these students are allowed to wear hats the rest of the school year.

Three hairdressers are BHS graduates now majoring in cosmetology at Trident Tech. Other hairdressers came from Flip Side Salon and Beauty Express. Three came from Pizazz Salon and Day Spa in Moncks Corner, owned by Bunton’s father, Eddie Thompson.

“That’s Haley for you,” Thompson said. “I remember the day Haley came home and said I’m shaving my head for Ashley.”

“It really restores your faith in humanity. The outpouring,” Brian Manning, Smith’s stepfather, said.

Teachers chipped in with “faculty dress-down day,” meaning they could wear jeans if they donated.

BHS has raised about $5,000 from teacher donations, T-shirt sales, dress down and community donations, Stone said.

SunTrust Bank has setup an Ashley Smith Cancer Fund. Donations can be made at any branch.

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