However, when she saw the school was having a World's Greatest Shave event at lunchtime, it was an easy decision.

When her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, Jordan had always planned to shave her head in support and said the fundraiser was the perfect opportunity.

"I just wanted to do something special for her because she's going through a hard time, our lives aren't that easy but we're coping and she's getting treatment which is the best thing," she said.

"She loves my hair because she's always wanted curly hair, she loves fiddling with my hair and I know it's going to be a huge change for her but I think she'll just be really emotional that I've done this for her.

"I love my mum, that's why I'm doing it."

The fundraiser is part of the year 10 VCAL students' personal development skills class which allows students to design and implement simple activities with teacher support.

Teacher Trent Kennedy said each of the 25 students had some level of involvement in the organisation of the event.

"The idea was born from a class discussion and then the students were allocated roles, for example, contacting the media, contacting hairdressers, or preparing the barbecue, and as a team they put together the World's Greatest Shave day at Ballarat High School," he said.

"The learning outcomes are to organise and run a simple activity, it's also to demonstrate health and wellbeing, resilience, teamwork skills, leadership skills, everything like that."

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Mr Kennedy said five students from the class volunteered to shave their heads while other students came on board as well.

"Engagement was really high because the students obviously identified that's what they wanted to do so if students can engage in an activity that they've chosen, then the motivation level is much higher," he said.

"I'm just really proud of what they've been able to do, especially really early in the year.

"They've come out of a year of COVID, missed a lot of school, they're in year 10 doing a foundation VCAL subject, got a new teacher that's new to school as well, and in a matter of a couple of weeks, they've been able to fill a gym and get some heads shaved to raise some money for leukaemia."

Year 10 student Lachlan Keen took part in honour of a family member who had also lost their hair through chemotherapy.

"Last year, my aunty lost her hair to bone cancer and I was gonna do it then but I didn't get the opportunity so I just thought to myself, I'll just do it now," he said.

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