CLOSE SHAVE: West Perry High School English teacher Celia Elmes gets her long, auburn hair shaved by Tina Boden of Happenings Hair Salon. Elmes upheld her part of an agreement with West Perry students to have her head shaved if they raised $5,000 for the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition. Looking on is Ashlee Leiby, a West Perry senior, who has worked as Bodenâs assistant for three years. (John Shinskie photo)Celia Elmes, a ninth-grade English teacher at West Perry High School, learned last March that a longtime teaching partner and friend was diagnosed with breast cancer.
When the friend, who has since moved to a teaching position at another school, shared her plight, Elmes decided to grow her hair long and present West Perry High School students with a challenge — raise $5,000 for the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition (PBCC).
The payoff? If they did she would have her head shaved on during the fourth Chuck-a-Duck Pink-Out at Susquenita Jan. 20, held in conjunction with boys’ and girls’ basketball games versus West Perry.
Was having her head shaved a foregone conclusion?
“No!” Elmes replied. “I am adamant about standards and told the kids if they were even one dollar short of the goal, it wasn’t going to happen. I knew they would get the money.”
They got to the goal and more, a total of $6,700 before the clippers snipped Elmes’ hair.
Elmes kept her end of the bargain, proud of the students and fans from both schools “for rallying behind a cause that impacts so many, and allowing me to help in this small way. Like I’ve said before — it’s just hair.”
Tina Boden of Happenings Hair Salon in Elliottsburg did the shearing. She has cut Elmes’ hair in more fashionable styles for nearly 20 years.
Elmes reached an emotional high when the Susquenita students danced to the song “Word Up” by Cameo. “It’s my (cell phone) ring tone and my all-time favorite song. I know it was a coincidence but it made the night even more surreal to me.”