By Moses Leos III.
An initiative to honor a teacher with breast cancer went beyond anything she ever imagined.
Lehman High’s Health Science and Technology teacher Yvette Sutten, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in July, said she thought it might be difficult to get just a few people involved.
She just recently returned to teaching following her first chemotherapy session in Sept.
“Ideally, we were hoping for at least 30 kids to come out and participate,” Sutten said.
But by the end of the day Friday, hundreds of Lehman students crowded the balcony of the school, cheering on their classmates. More than 125 students, including 20 females, shaved their heads as part of the Shave-a-thon, organized by Lehman employees Karin Prado and Erin Powell.
The hair that came off the heads will be donated to Locks of Love – an organization that provides wigs for those going through cancer treatments who lose their hair.
Here,freshly shaved Lobos get a feel for their new ‘dos while other look on and await their turn. More than 100 students participated in the Shave-a-thon, including twenty female students.At top, hair stylist Naomi Schrock (left) works on shaving the head of senior Brenda Reyes during the Lehman High School Shave-a-thon on Friday. Reyes, along with 125 of her classmates and numerous staff members sacrificed their hair to honor Lehman teacher Yvette Sutton, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Through the Shave-a-thon, approximately 15 ponytails were raised, which will be donated to Locks of Love, a foundation that provides wigs for those who lose their hair during cancer treatments. (Photos by Moses Leos III) |
Sutten said Nariko Nakachi was the first girl to make the sacrifice. Her courage set the stage for others to join the cause.
“Once Nariko did it, other girls were saying, ‘I can do this.’ And they did,” Sutten said.
Senior Brenda Reyes donated her hair, saying her adoration for her former teacher helped her make the decision.
“She is my role model, I love her,” Reyes said. “I was really happy, but it was emotional…I was crying, but it wasn’t because of my hair. It was for the moment.”
Sutten said she cherished the stories so many students shared after they had their heads shaved. They told her why they were contributing, and how cancer has affected their families.
What hit her most was the story of the fourth student to shave his head. He was doing it in memory of his mother, who succumbed to breast cancer two years ago.
“The (students’) stories are endless and passionate,” Sutten said in a letter to Lehman High Staff after the event. “This shaving was so much bigger than my fight. For many it was a chance to make a positive out of a negative.”
Sutten believes it started with a student’s “random act of kindness.”
Lehman student Sarah Singer sought out to support her former teacher by creating “Team Sutten” T-shirts. Her goal was to sell at least 10 t-shirts in support. She sold 310 – many of them going to staff and students at Lehman.
Singer was able to keep it a secret from Sutten for a month. Through word of mouth, and encouragement, Singer helped rally support around Sutten. The end result was 125 students going bald for “Team Sutten,” with many adorning the inspirational T-Shirt.
It was a moment many will remember.
“It is amazing,” said stylist Naomi Schrock. “This woman is amazing and I love her. We need to be here for her. It’s so amazing.”
For Sutten, her battle with the disease continues. She will continue to undergo chemotherapy until December.
But she will always remember the kindness of the Lobo Nation.
“We never knew it was going to be as big as it was, with that many students participating,” Sutten said. “This was bigger than any of us.”
