Be Brave and Shave students raise cancer awareness

Now in its tenth year, members of the Trevallyn Primary School Community came out in force to raise money, awareness and camaraderie for people living with cancer.

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The school has been raising money for the national charity for a decade after a group of students came up with the idea to shave their heads in 2011 for National Bandana Day, raising $2500.

Since then, Trevallyn Primary has raised over $130,000 with this year's takings falling just short of $25,000.

The event was well attended and included representatives from CanTeen eager to share their cancer stories of loss and survival.

21-year-old Georgia Richardson is a cancer survivor who, after being diagnosed with a brain tumour at the age of five, underwent seven months of chemotherapy.

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After experiencing cancer at such a young age, Ms Richardson said it was heartwarming to see so many young students willing to support those living with cancer.

"I did get a bit emotional when they showed the kids standing up there because they're quite young and it's just really heartwarming to see the support of the community," she said.

Now working as a youth campaigner for CanTeen Ms Richardson said community events like Be Brave and Shave were invaluable for the knowledge they provided young people.

"This whole school now has that knowledge and awareness of what cancer is like now, and knows how to support a friend or family member if a cancer diagnosis happens," she said.

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Jacob Boutcher was also touched by cancer at a young age after his mother succumbed to acute myeloid leukaemia in 2013 when he was only 12.

Mr Boutcher recalled the pain he experienced while his mother struggled with the disease, an experience he said was made all the more difficult due to the bullying he faced from others in his peer group at the time.

"There was bullying that was related to the fact my mum had passed away and I didn't have a mum," he said.

"There were some other reasons too, but there was significant bullying around the fact that my mom passed away."

He said seeing students display such a strong an empathic understanding of the impact cancer had on family members and those around them was particularly moving.

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