In 2015, four St Margaret’s students were motivated to move the needle on cancer treatment after the mother of a Year 12 student was diagnosed with cancer. Together, Beth Flint, Meg Fraser, Maria Cobain and Annabelle Crossley devised the Ponytail Project, where students could raise funds as well as donate their hair for wigs or hairpieces. These philanthropic role models could never have imagined nine years ago that their unique and innovative idea would resonate so well with communities that not only would it continue to be an annual St Margaret’s event, but it would be adopted by Cancer Council Queensland (in 2019) and ripple out across the state, helping so many more people impacted by disease.

In that first year, 21 students cut off their ponytails and raised almost $20,000. Momentum has gathered across the years, and in 2023, 110 students #rockedthechop and raised over $126,000, bringing the total amassed across the nine years to more than $700,000, not to mention the countless ponytails that have been donated to be made into wigs for grateful recipients. In that time, many girls have lined up twice, a few even three times to donate to the cause.

Funds have also been raised for the Minotti Trust to assist with the young family of beloved past student and staff member Amanda Minotti who sadly lost her life to the disease in 2016.

2024 will mark the tenth year of the Ponytail Project, and like all milestones, St Margaret’s wants to make its mark - by moving the fundraising needle to the million-dollar mark! It’s a bold target, so we are calling in the cavalry.

We are asking the wider community members of St Margaret’s to join us for the 10th anniversary of this remarkable project. If you are an Old Girl or past or current parent and would like to help us reach our target, we are asking you to register your interest so we can keep you up to date with the 2024 event. And some of you might need to start growing your mane now!

None of us escape the impact of this insidious disease – whether through loved-ones or even ourselves one day – we all know someone. More than 32,000 Queenslanders are diagnosed with cancer each year and Cancer Council Queensland is dedicated to ensuring no Queenslander is left navigating cancer alone. Ponytails will again be donated to Real Fringe Hairbands to be fashioned into hairpieces and wigs for people suffering the effects of cancer treatment or alopecia.

Will you be there on Tuesday 30 July 2024 to help us make history? It will be the biggest Ponytail Project event to date and raise the most funds to help as many people as we can. In addition, if you know of any individuals or companies who would like to join us on this journey, put them in touch with us.

Can’t get to Brisbane? You can still be involved wherever you are by joining the fundraising page and getting your local hairdresser or a trusted friend to lop off your ponytail or consider holding your own event in a regional area or international city!

To register to cut your hair please go to Register - Ponytail Project 2024 QLD

To donate, please go to Ponytail Project - St Margaret's Anglican Girls School 2024

For further information, please contact: Wendy Johnston, Director of Marketing and Communications | wjohnston@stmargarets.qld.edu.au 

To read the Ponytail Project newsletter please click here.