Year 2 student Rhyleigh Cockerill cut her beautiful, long hair to raise money for Variety. Rhyleigh had been growing her locks for the past four years for Variety’s Hair with Heart.

Her donated hair will be made into a wig for someone who has lost their hair due to a medical condition such as alopecia or cancer. These conditions have personally touched Rhyleigh and her family and she wanted to make a difference for the brave girls and boys battling them.

“At the beginning of Term 1, Rhyleigh approached Holy Infants principal Diane Murphy and asked what she could do to help a child with no hair,” said acting assistant principal, Courtney Potter.

“This act of compassion and care has greatly affected our school community and we wanted to support Rhyleigh.”

All Holy Infants students gathered in the school hall to watch the big chop.

Rhyleigh’s mum, Mel, spent two hours before the clip washing, drying and straightening Rhyleigh’s hair, in preparation to turn it into a wig. Rhyleigh’s Aunty Jess very carefully measured the hair to be cut, using a metre ruler, and then tied eight exceptionally long plaits.

Students showed their pride in Rhyleigh and applauded the act of kindness and generosity.

Rhyleigh was aiming to raise $2,000 for Variety but exceeded this goal, raising just over $2300. The school community is proud of Rhyleigh for donating her hair to make a difference in the lives of other very special boys or girls.

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