WESTON RANCH — A Great Valley Elementary School Annex science teacher lost his hair but gained $1,440 for his favorite cause, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Association.

Robert Choate said he has personal reasons for asking support for the medical association since the disease struck close to home with him years ago.  Year after year he has urged the student body of his school to join him in a “Pennies for Patients” campaign to help make a difference for those stricken and for research with the diseases.

Choate had promised he would allow school attendance clerk Lori Leitner to use barber’s clippers on his full head of graying hair if the students came up with more than $1,100 – which they surpassed during the month of February.

The teacher sat down in a chair in the quad area of the school with students watching and eager to see his waves fall to the ground as Leitner clipped away.  As he visibly became a bald member of the staff, the students cheered at the top of their voices.

It was unclear whether he was going to let it grow out by graduation or keep his current status.