Long locks lost

DESPITE suffering from Crohns Disease, Cranbourne’s Madeline Kent can still see how lucky she is.
That is why the 13-year-old Cranbourne East Secondary College student will shave off her long locks this Saturday – for those children and teenagers that aren’t so lucky.
Since being diagnosed with Crohns Disease, a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines, Madeline has spent the last three years in and out of hospital.
It is during that time that she has met many young people with cancer, something that led her to her decision to lose her locks to raise money for a good cause.
“I realise how lucky I am to be able to go home when I am better, but there are so many kids that don’t ever leave,” she said.
“Last time I was in hospital getting my medicines done I went to the Starlight Room.
“There was a little girl in the room who had cancer and had no hair.
“I overheard her say to her daddy ‘how come she has hair, and not me, that’s not fair’.
“That’s when I decided that I wanted to shave my hair off.
“It made me realise I’m lucky compared to some of the other children.”
Madeline said she was both excited and scared for Saturday.
“I’m a bit scared about how it’s going to look but I don’t mind,” she said.
“Some of the kids at school think I going to look a bit weird, but I don’t care.
“Others think I’m a really good person for doing it and that I’m so brave.”
Madeline’s mother Sarah said she was so proud of her daughter.
“She’s very brave,” she said.
“She came to me and said she wanted to do and I was a bit shocked.
“I made her think about it for a week and then she came back after that week and said she still wanted to do it.
“She really wants to help the sick kids in hospital.
“She has received overwhelming support from everyone.”
So far, Madeline has raised $3340 and is hoping to get to the $4000 by Saturday.
All money raised will go to the Kids with Cancer Foundation – an independent, non-profit Public Benevolent Institution.
The funds go to help the youngest sufferers of childhood cancer, from newborn babies to young teens.
The organisation provides direct financial assistance to families and as well as to children’s hospitals for vital equipment along with salaries for research, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, social workers and capital works to build new or modernise existing oncology day wards.
To donate towards Madeline’s fund-raiser visit www.everydayhero.com.au/madeline_kent.