A PONTELAND sixth former shaved off her beloved locks in aid of Alzheimer’s Research UK in front of a packed-out hall of students.

Elizabeth Kolenda, known as Lizzie, braved not only her own nerves, but the eager eyes of her peers when she stepped into the gym of Ponteland High School earlier this month.

The 16-year-old, from Kirkheaton, decided to take the drastic move of having all the hair on her head shaved off to help raise funds for the research charity.

“I never thought so many people would turn up, but when we went to set up there were huge queues.

“The teachers had to close the doors on the gym because too many people were trying to get in,” she explained.

“Seeing the crowd was more scary than getting my head shaved!

“With all the emotion of the day, I was getting choked up because of so many people being really supportive. It was brilliant.

“Alzheimer’s Research doesn’t get a lot of coverage. People are more likely to react to something big and that’s why I did it. I love my hair and wanted to make a sacrifice.”

Lizzie started fund-raising for Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK) after taking part in work experience at Newcastle Brain Tissue Resource, formerly known as Newcastle Brain Bank, helping to raise awareness of the work it does supporting advances in the understanding of dementia and neurodegenerative disease.

But it was only six weeks ago, when Lizzie’s friend jokingly suggested she should shave off her shoulder-length dark hair, that she decided to take the suggestion up.

It was a brave move for the teenager who describes her locks as the “favourite part of myself” having been bleached, dyed and styled all the colours under the sun over the years.

As well as the sponsored head shave – which was carried out for free by staff from Level 2 hairdressers in Ponteland – Lizzie and her friends ran a cake stall and a henna stall on the day.

Including profits on the day, so far they have raised £850 for the charity, but Lizzie hopes her hair sacrifice may help reach her target of £1,000.

Fund-raising continues and to find out more, visit www.mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/lizzieKolenda1