ROCKY HILL, Conn. -- Students at Griswold Middle School in Rocky Hill presented a challenge to their teachers, but it wasn't for a grade.

The students raised money to help the son of world language teacher Linda Carneiro, who died of cancer.

IMAGES: Students Raise $6,500; Teachers Shave Heads

The money from the fundraiser will be used to help Carneiro's son, CJ Carneiro, pay for college.

Along with the outpouring of generosity, the students said they wanted to get teachers involved as an incentive for students. If the students succeed, the male teachers have agreed to shave their heads.

"I don't have much hair left anyway, so I don't think it's going to make too much of a difference," teacher Mark Mogielnicki said. "I'm looking forward to it."

"I'm going to dye this little bit of hair hot pink," teacher Dan Randall said. "The kids wanted it dyed instead of shaved."

There are three parts of the deal, the students said.

If they raised $1,000, teachers Mr. Randall, Mr. Vye and Mr. Patrei agreed to shave their heads, dye their hair a strange color or get a design shaved into their hair.

If they raised $2,000, they said, Mr. Mogielnicki, Mr. Avery, Mr. Benson, and Principal Watson agreed to submit to the challenge.

If they raised $3,000, they said, Mr. Patarini agreed to cut his pony tail.

"She came to school bald from her chemotherapy, and she's the bravest woman I ever knew," Patarini said. "Anything we can do the support her and her son's educational goals is what we're about."

But Patarini upped the ante. He said that if the students could raise $5,000, he would get a mohawk.

The students raised about $6,500 through donations from the community.

"Tomorrow night I'll shave it off, Q-ball, so the kids get the best of both worlds," Patarini said.

"We're excited about it, and it's certainly an honor that we're doing this and contribute to his education," Patrei said.

The students said they wanted to raise any money they could for CJ Caneiro because college is so expensive.