Dannielle Collett goes pink in the name of fundraising.By Callan Date
THE BRIGHT pink streaks in 10yearold Dannielle Collett’s blonde hair may look like the latest fashion statement, but the new style is all part of the Leukaemia Foundation’s World Greatest Shave day.
The grade five student at Bunyip Primary School lost her uncle to leukaemia two months ago and has dyed her hair as a tribute to her late relative as well as to raise money for the foundation.
Her uncle, Rod Thorneycroft, died in February after being diagnosed with the disease three weeks before his death.
“It was a very aggressive case of leukaemia and he died only 19 days after being told he had it,” Dannielle’s mother Rhonda Collett said.
Keen art student Dannielle has so far raised $350 in donations and hopes to increase that over the next week.
“I just went around and asked people if they wanted to sponsor me and I got donations from my family, people around town and some of my teachers at school,” Dannielle said.
She said the time spent with her uncle was always fun and they did many enjoyable things together. “He used to train greyhounds and he took me to the track to watch them race and we also use to visit Nan and Pop together as well,” she said.
While the hair dye was a winner for Dannielle, she couldn’t bring herself to part with her long golden locks.
“I haven’t had a hair cut my whole life so I wasn’t going to shave it all off,” she said.
Owner of Loretta’s Hairdressing in Bunyip, Loretta King, dyed Dannielle’s hair free of charge and said the salon was happy to help out.
“We are more than happy to help Dannielle and it is for such a good cause,” Ms King said.
Donations to the Leukaemia Foundation’s World Greatest Shave day can be made at Loretta’s Hairdressing, 17 High Street, Bunyip.
