By Melanie Petrucci, Senior Community Reporter
Photo/submitted
Shrewsbury – Melissa Carriveau is a proud mom. Her daughter Ellie, 12, a sixth-grade student at Sherwood Middle School, will be shaving off her pretty strawberry blonde hair as a way to help other kids who are ill with cancer.
Ellie will be participating in a virtual Head Shaving Party on Sunday, March 14 to benefit the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a national organization committed to finding cures for childhood cancers.
“It takes a lot of courage to shave your head, especially for a middle school girl,” Melissa said. “We are so proud of how kind and empathetic Ellie is to decide to do this so selflessly for other kids.”
Ellie shared, “I’m shaving my head with St. Baldrick’s to raise money and help conquer kids’ cancers. Every two minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer worldwide, and one in five of those in the United States will not survive…”
She was inspired to help other kids after hearing of a family friend who had participated in St. Baldrick’s Foundation. She thought that by going bald she might make some kids who are going through treatment feel like they are not alone.
Sherwood Middle School principal Jonathan Kelly is behind her 100 percent. He said he was “impressed but not surprised that she would want to participate in something like this.”
Initially Ellie thought it would be great if she could raise $500. She has exceeded that goal and is currently over $4,000.
“I have received emails from parents who have lost their child to cancer, and from parents whose children have conquered it and some who are still in treatment…,” she added. “I can’t believe how many nice people, who are strangers to me, have donated money and cheered me on.”
She is thankful for all the support she has received. For more information and to support Ellie, click here.
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