Jan Fry, Lélou Jack, Kelly Sayce, Holly Sayce, hairdresser Deb O’Brien and EmmaSayce celebrate the 10-year-old Emma’s generous donation. PHOTO: Sam Bradbrook
A LOCAL primary school girl has turned a tough time for her family into something positive, cutting off her long hair to create wigs for chemotherapy patients and raise money for cancer research.
Hewett student Emma Sayce, 10, has seen many members of her family, including her mother, grandmother and grandfather battle cancer during her life, and was rocked by the recent news her cousin had been diagnosed with leukaemia.
After seeing the tough time her family had been through, Emma decided she needed to do something, so her and her mother, Kelly Sayce, discovered they could donate Emma’s long hair to a good cause.
Last week, Emma cut her long locks to be donated to Sustainble Salons, which will make her hair into wigs for children and adults undergoing cancer treatment.
She is also raising money for the Leukaemia Foundation World’s Greatest Shave, with the proceeds going towards research into the disease.
Mrs Sayce was proud to see her daughter put her hand up to do something which will make a difference to a fellow young person’s life.
“We’ve always been very big on fundraising. I took part in the World’s Greatest Shave a few years ago, but I only coloured my hair,” she said.
“It’s something good to do with it. It’s not just a haircut.
“My mum lost all her hair when she was going through treatment and now her little cousin is losing his hair too.
“She’s seen the effect and wanted to do something.”
It takes around 15 donated ponytails to make one wig.
Mrs Sayce added Emma previously wanted to grow her hair out “like Rapunzel”, but then jumped at the chance to help out sick people doing it tough.
“Previously, she (Emma) had no interest in cutting her hair whatsoever. So she thought this would be a good cause to finally do it,” she said.
“Emma gets quite worried about it (cancer). She obviously sees the link between her grandparents, parents, and now her little cousin. It’s quite scary.
“It’s scary for a child to see another child going through cancer.”
To support Emma and donate to the Leukaemia Foundation, go to https://worldsgreatestshave.com/and search for Emma Sayce in the ‘donate to a shaver’ link.
