By Jessica Anstice
Two Emerald girls will be chopping their long locks and donating them to be made into wigs for children with cancer.
Charli and Eva, both nine-years-old, wanted to do something to help after hearing Charli’s father had lost his brother to childhood cancer.
To date, the girls have raised more than $7500 for Variety, the Children’s Charity’s Hair with Heart program.
The charity works with a wigmaker who uses donated hair to provide custom-made wigs for children with medical hair loss from cancer treatment and conditions such as alopecia.
Personalised wigs can cost families up to $6000 and last between two and three years, meaning families can spend tens of thousands of dollars on the purchase of wigs throughout a child’s youth.
Their end fundraising goal keeps shifting, as the community response has been “so incredible”, Charli’s mum Kylie Fletcher said.
The Grade 4 students’ fundraising efforts are currently sitting second from the top for the highest fundraiser of the year for Variety.
Now, their goal is taking out the top fundraising spot, however they are happy just raising as much money as possible to provide a handful of sick children with wigs.
“It has always been something Charli had on her mind but I, as the concerned mum, said no, until she was old enough to make the decision herself and not feel pressured to do so,” Ms Fletcher said.
“I didn’t want a child so young feeling like they had that responsibility.”
The two brave girls will be cutting at least 35.5 centimetres off to meet Variety’s guidelines.
Ms Fletcher said both girls are now searching the web for images of their favourite ‘short’ hairstyles.
“Both girls are super excited, and I must say a little overwhelmed at the response, as we all are,” she added.
“They cannot believe how generous some people are.
“Although I think a few nerves will kick in closer to the date I still think the excitement will be the overriding emotion.”
Charli and Eva have scheduled their big chop for Saturday 28 November at Emerald Lake Park, given coronavirus restrictions ease.
A proud mum, Ms Fletcher said the girls’ good deed has brought tears to her eyes on more than one occasion.
“I know this to be also true for my husband and Eva’s parents, Nick and Kara,” she added.
“It is a humbling feeling knowing that our daughters have made such a generous decision at such a young age.
“And I can say with some certainty that I will be crying happy tears on the day.”
Variety acting CEO David Sexton said people like Charli and Eva make a big difference for Aussie kids.
“Variety doesn’t receive any government funding so every wig and every piece of equipment granted to families is thanks to the amazing efforts of people like Charli and Eva,” he said.
“We can’t thank people like Charli and Eva enough for their dedicated efforts to help us help Aussie kids.”
To make a donation, go to: https://hairwithheart.variety.org.au/fundraisers/kyliefletcher/hair-with-heart
