Pleasant surprise after shock

By Tania Martin
RIAANE Comport knows just how important the World Greatest Shave is.
The 27-year-old Menzies Creek Primary School teacher has been battling lymphoma since December.
She couldn’t believe it when her school decided to take part in the popular shave fundraiser for the Leukaemia Foundation.
Ms Comport joined fellow teachers and parents as more than 148 students shaved and coloured their hair for the cause.
She even helped colour some of the students’ hair.
Several parents and teachers also braved the shave or coloured their locks.
Ms Comport said her diagnosis was a massive shock but her extended family at the school had been amazing.
“Everyone has been great, people have been cooking me dinner and dropping it off,” she said.
Prior to her diagnosis, the grade 3/4 teacher had been experiencing chest pain but never expected cancer.
She is now undergoing chemotherapy every third Friday and is optimistic about her chances.
Ms Comport even got the chance to shave her father, Neal’s beard for the cause.
He has raised $1615 towards the school’s massive $13,600 total.
Menzies Creek Primary School has boasted the biggest team in the state and the seventh highest total for Victoria.
Principal Tanya Cooke said the school had collected the cash in just five weeks.
She said Ms Comport was an amazing person and one of the bravest she knows.
“It (the diagnosis) has hit this small community really hard because she is just a part of the family,” she said.
Macclesfield Primary School principal John Chiswell also took the plunge shaving off his beard for the first time in 35 years.
After taking the plunge, he declared that it would be growing back as soon as possible.
The shave raised more than $1000 for the cause.
At Monbulk Primary School students took part in a crazy hair day and three students braved the shave.
The after school care co-ordinator Kaye Gray also chopped off her locks for the cause.
The school collected just under $3000.