The group has raised over $8500 for the Leukaemia Foundation so far after taking part in the World’s Greatest Shave on Thursday.

Principal Steve Walton said the idea started with a few students who wanted to support their classmate whose dad had died after a battle with cancer.

Others joined in for the shave, while the whole school community has been contributing to the tally.

“I am so impressed with the stand our Year 12 students are taking. We have all loved someone who has or had cancer and I am no exception,” Mr Walton said.

“I am proud of our students for choosing to look outside themselves and to make a difference in our world.”

More than 270,000 Australian’s have been diagnosed with a blood cancer since World’s Greatest Shave began in 1998.

Although survival rates are improving, each year an average of 5336 people are newly diagnosed in NSW alone.

Leukaemia Foundation CEO Bill Petch said he believed blood cancer diagnosis rates would only continue to rise as Australia’s population aged.

“Now more than ever, Australians need to embrace fundraising initiatives like World’s Greatest Shave so organisations like the Leukaemia Foundation can support those affected by a diagnosis,” he said.

This included the foundation advocating for better access to medicines as well as funding groundbreaking research programs that would help improve treatments and survivability rates, he added.

Donate to the Cedars Christian College team, and other participants, at www.worldsgreatestshave.com