THE suffering of a close family friend has inspired two Veresdale Scrub State School students to support families and people affected by cancer.
Last year, Sammy Pearce, 10, took part in the World’s Greatest Shave for the first time after his friend Summers Hews was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2016.
This year, Sammy’s sister, Daisy, 8, is joining the cause, and will dye her hair orange to raise funds for the Leukemia Foundation.
Jimboomba Murphy’s barber Toni Allen will attend Veresdale Scrub State School on March 16 to offer spray and shave heads following the morning parade.
Sammy said for him, age was no excuse when it came to standing up for a cause.
“We want to support families who have leukemia and also Summer who is a very close friend,” he said.
“She is halfway through her treatment and in 2019 her treatment ends and they will have a look if the cancer has gone away or not.”
Leading up to the World’s Greatest Shave, the Pearce family will hold three Leaukemia Foundation fundraisers outside Woolworths at Jimboomba Shopping Centre on February 28, March 7 and March 14, between 3.30pm and 4.30pm.
Last year, Sammy raised $526, and this year he is hoping to get past $600.
He said he couldn’t begin to imagine what it would feel like to have a disease completely change his life.
“We want others to join in because it is very tough to live with blood cancer knowing your life is at risk… I wouldn’t like it at all,” he said.
“People may think it is hard to fundraise, but it is harder to live their life with cancer.”
Sammy’s mum, Petra Tarnhamn said she had great empathy for young people suffering from cancer.
“It is a lot harder for a child because you have the pressure to do school work and you can’t because your sick, so it is good to know you have got your friends support,” she said.
