A first haircut is always picture-worthy, but for a young Adelaide cancer patient, today’s first chop was in a special ceremony to raise awareness and funds, but was also a sign of how far she’s come.
Evelyn Tuckerman and her family, including mother Billie and devoted older brother Edward, gathered to celebrate this milestone in her arduous battle against Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that developed on her spine when she was just seven months old.
With a beaming smile, Evelyn showcased her hair, which had finally grown long enough to be cut after enduring 18 rounds of chemotherapy, numerous blood transfusions, and two months of proton radiation therapy in the United States.
Mother Billie described the emotional toll the ordeal had taken on the family.
“It’s been a real hard challenge emotionally for us to try and live life to the fullest because we don’t want to be sad and depressed at home,” she said.
In a touching gesture of solidarity, Billie cut her long locks to raise funds for Camp Quality, while nine-year-old Edward bravely shaved his head in support of his sister.
“I couldn’t dare think of losing her,” Edward said.
The Tuckerman family has set a goal of raising $10,000.
“Every dollar counts, and it’s the memories that we make as a family that are priceless,” Billy said, a sentiment echoed by Edward.
“All I can say is it’s going for a good cause and it’s going to put smiles on people’s faces,” he said.
