A group of kind-hearted schoolchildren have raised a staggering $45,000 for a cancer charity.

Nineteen pupils, parents and teachers from Somersfield Academy collected the impressive sum by volunteering to have their heads shaved for St Baldrick’s.

The move was also intended to show their solidarity with cancer sufferers who experience hair loss from chemotherapy treatment.

Lead organiser Tracey Gibbons described the event as a “tremendous success”.

“Not only did the children help raise a fantastic amount of money for a worthy cause but it was wonderful to see the whole Somersfield community enter into the spirit of the day,” she said. “The rewards of such a great team effort were as valuable to the students as the funds will be to St Baldrick’s.

“We would like to express our sincere thanks to all the school staff, students and parents for all their efforts.”

The head-shaving event was part of Somersfield’s Community and Service Day last week, which also involved 150 middle-year students and teachers braving the rain to complete a three-mile walkathon.

Another 130 children took to the streets of Hamilton with Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre to hand out sunscreen and help to educate the public about skin cancer awareness.

Even the school’s youngest pupils — Children’s House students aged just three to six — got into the spirit of things and raised money by doing extra chores at home.

They also collected trash, with each bag earning a donation to St Baldrick’s.

Students also ended the school year by donating $2 each to come to school in a crazy hairstyle, with bright colours and wigs on display.

Shaving and hair-colouring services were donated by the TK Hair Creative Team and Tony at Bang Bang Hair.

The St Baldrick’s Foundation has funded more than $127 million in research grants since 2005 to find a cure for childhood cancers.

Worldwide, a child is diagnosed with cancer every three minutes and more children are lost to cancer than any other disease.