A buzz for a good cause

By Christy Marsters

Nothing motivates students quite like a thought of shaving a teacher’s head.

That is the incentive Hants North Rural High drama teacher Angela Sanfordhas put forth to students in her drama club. In an attempt to raise fundraising spirit amongst students, she agreed October 1 to let the group shave her head, in front of the whole school, if they could raise $60,000 by Christmas. The money is for a planned trip for the club to perform at the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.

It is a tough task. “I’m feeling real safe right now,” Sanford says. “The students still need to raise about $15,000 between now and Christmas to meet the challenge. There is two weeks left.”

Since fundraising began, students in the drama club have bagged groceries, planned performances and helped organize an event for three community holiday house tours held December 11. The group also plans to showcase the play they’ve created –The Sheriff’s New Dud’s - to perform in Scotland. One performance will be held February 6 at the Marigold Centre in Truro and another is being planned for this spring.

There’s been many hours put into preparing this script, on top of all the fundraising, Sanford says. “The Sheriff’s New Dud’s is a comedy … the kids (in the HNRH Drama Club) have written it. It’s our Western rendition of The Emperor’s New Clothes story.”

Being able to perform for international audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is a phenomenal opportunity for these students, who may want to pursue careers in performing arts, Sanford adds. “Preparing for this experience has really brought us together, as a group … I am really proud of the work we have put into getting ready.”

Drama club member Cassie White says it has been hard work to get things to come together. “(Fundraising) has been difficult too because there’s a lot of other people trying to raise money for other things as well.” “Still, the more money raised gets us a little bit closer to our goal; our dream of going to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival,” White adds. “Shaving (Sanford’s) head is just that little prize we get.”

Cassie says the first performance of the play - for the senior drama group at Avon View High School December 9 - went over well. “It is nice to know we can do it,” she says, “and, that we are not going to fail at this.”

The club’s senior director Erin White says the best part of the experience was seeing the group come together from strangers to family. “I can’t think that it (going to Scotland) is going to happen because it’s so far away … but I’m sure it will.” “It’ll mean a lot to go,” she adds. “It is a chance to see a part of the world I probably wouldn’t otherwise.”

Recently, Dr. Grant Barlett presented the club with a cheque for $10,000 to match funds raised over the summer by the group. He also provided four rounds of golf and one night’s accommodation in two suites at Fox Harbour Resort for raffling.

In total, the club has raised $45,350 so far. Anyone who is interested in purchasing a raffle ticket call Sanford, at 362-3300, or drop into Hants North Rural High School to make a donation.