Annalise Potts raised $2,286.80 for her niece Annabelle’s brain cancer treatment at the Harden Junior Rugby League (HJRL) presentation night on Saturday, by cutting 35 centimetres from her waist-length hair and donating it to Variety Australia, a children’s cancer foundation.
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Annabelle was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, an aggressive and inoperable brain tumour, in December and her parents Adam and Kathie were told that there was not much hope of survival for their little girl.
There is no treatment available in Australia, so the couple were forced to relocate their family to Mexico, where Annabelle is undergoing intra-arterial infusions along with immunotherapy treatments every three weeks for an undetermined time. Each of these treatments comes with a price tag of $24,000 per session.
Annabelle’s Aunty Annalise was nervous about having the chop, but felt it was the best way she could help to raise money for her niece’s treatment.
“I can’t believe how generous and supportive everyone has been,” the 17-year-old said.
“Two ladies bid on a jersey donated by Harden Junior Rugby League (HJRL), and they paid $500 for it.
“We can’t begin to thank them enough, as well as everyone who bought stickers and just donated money. We haven’t even collected the buckets we have left in the businesses around town yet.
“Thank you everyone. And a special thank you to Reg Potts from ‘Potts Point Hairdressing’, who put off a trip to cut my hair and to HJRL who let me be a part of their night.”
Annalise has not finished with her fundraising yet. She has been speaking with the Hard Rock Gym owners, Ros and Glen Stewart, and they are organising a table tennis tournament in the near future.
Donations to help Annabelle can be made at the Hard Rock Gym, Twin Town Pizza, IGA and the Harden Country Club, and you can follow her journey on her Facebook page; ‘Love for Annabelle’.