When it comes to friendship, seven-year-old Lily Mervyn is proving herself a cut above.
The Grade 2 White Rock Elementary student is preparing to bid adieu to her thick brown locks later this month, in support of a friend who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia.
“We played together a lot when we were little,” Lily said Thursday after class, of time she has spent with six-year-old Joshua Weekes over the past six years.
“I think he’s just (a) really good friend.”
Joshua, 6, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in February, and the search continues for a compatible bone-marrow donor for the Richmond boy.
After Lily learned she was too young to be tested as a possible match, she decided to raise money by promising to cut and donate her hair to Wigs for Kids, an organization that provides free, custom-fitted human-hair wigs for children who have lost their own hair due to cancer or other serious illness.
In the lead-up to the June 22 cut day – when nine inches will be lopped for the cause – she’s collecting donations that will be given to Joshua’s family to help with their expenses during this challenging time.
Three days after Lily’s mom Jennifer Mervyn launched the gofundme campaign – Lily’s Cut for the Cure – last week, Lily’s $300 goal had been surpassed, and continued to climb. By week’s end, it reached $410.
“I’m just really proud of her,” Mervyn said, noting she and Lily’s dad, Julian – who is a longtime friend of Joshua’s dad – are going to match the first $300.
“I think we need to change the goal.”
“All of the money that I’m going to donate is going to my friend in the hospital,” Lily said.
Mervyn said she hopes others will support Lily’s efforts by also donating.
And, she hopes word of the campaign will raise awareness of the need for bone-marrow donors – both for Joshua’s sake, and in general.
“We need donors and we need awareness,” Mervyn said.
“It’s something as a society we need to be doing better at. It could save a life.”
To donate to Lily’s effort, visit www.gofundme.com/25rxftxg