School mates at Hunter Valley Grammar rallied around the pair for their very public hair loss campaign.

“It was really awkward but rewarding at the same time,” Lauren said.

“I don’t necessarily like being the centre of attention.”

Grace said it was an emotional experience.

Leukaemia claimed her uncle before she was born.

“It’s a cause close to my heart,” she said.

“I never got to meet him.”

Both 14 years old, the girls donated their ponytails to Panteen Beauty Lengths to craft wigs for women living with cancer.

“In the cold and rain it feels very different,” Lauren said.

“It feels very open. 

“It’s so weird.

“I can see how the cancer patients must feel and I can understand why they want to wear wigs.”

The school’s principal Paul Teys joined the shave, contributing $500, while his son Brayden stepped in too.

The girls held a cake stall which added $350 to the total while a Facebook page with donation instructions found a lot of support from their parents’ co-workers.

The head of the secondary school Trevor Norman co-­ordinated the shave at lunchtime on October 10.

“Without the help of these ­people and the sponsors we couldn’t have done it,” Grace said.

All proceeds go to the Leukaemia Foundation.

A $27 donation can provide a pack to help someone understand their disease and the challenges ahead, while a $36 contribution can give emotional support to help someone overcome the initial shock of being diagnosed.

The foundation also helps fund research.