Shaving record officially recognised
Two years after a Far North charity shaved 462 heads in an hour, they have had the feat officially recognised as a Guiness World Record.
The Bald Angels raised $60,000 when 462 people had their locks shaved off on November 20, 2015.
Bald Angels founder The´re`se Wickbom says it is great to finally deliver on their promise to have the event noted as a world record.
‘‘A community went bald for the good of children in the community,’’ Wickbom says.
She says it took a lot of determination and patience from volunteers Judith Blades and Tessa Lock-Mooibroek who made numerous phone calls to the Guiness World Record offices in the United Kingdom, and provided all the evidence required.
Wickbom says it was a pleasure to open the certificate with the other Bald Angels trustees.
‘‘It’s so good to be able to keep our promise to the community we knew we’d done it, so we are thrilled to share it with not just the 462 people who shaved their heads but to the 3000 people who turned up on the night.
‘‘We are proud to say thanks guys, we did it.’’
Wickbom says a number of people mentioned to her how humbled they felt to go bald.
‘‘It gave people a greater appreciation for people who go bald for no choice of their own.’’
The previous record, set in Wisconsin, United States in 2012, was 371 heads shaved in an hour.
Ten hairdressers from Waipapa, Kerikeri, Kaikohe and Paihia had the important task of getting people bald including Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis and former All Black Eric Rush.
Kerikeri hairdresser Sharon Sanderson says her adrenaline was pumping for weeks after the event and says it was a ‘‘pretty amazing’’ effort.
The Bald Angels get their name from their first major fundraiser where 62 people went bald to raise $45,000 - which later inspired the world record attempt.
The charitable trust have supported a number of initiatives throughout the Far North including providing Christmas food parcels and holding toy drives, establishing the Kerikeri Community Gardens, Keep Our Kids Warm Campaign and KiwiMana (which supported youth development and employment opportunities).