BRAVE THE SHAVE: Girl, 11, shaves her head to help best friend cope with cancer battle
A YOUNG girl has shaved off her blonde locks to help her best friend cope with his cancer battle.
A schoolgirl shaves her hair off to help her best friend cope with his cancer battle
Courageous 11-year-old Anna Bedocs, from Derbyshire, decided to cut all her hair off after her friend, seven-year-old Lewis Weinman, was diagnosed with an aggressive cancerous tumour in November last year.
The school girl took part in the event 'Brave the Shave' - organised by Lewis’ family - where his parents were also sponsored to shave their heads to held fundraise for his illness.
A total of 10 people took part local event which raised a staggering £7,000.
Anna has known Lewis and his sister since they were tots, and her mother, Andrea Bedocs, said they spend all of their time together.
Mrs Bedocs said: “Anna, Lewis and his sister are all extremely close. I’m so incredibly proud of what she did. It makes me cry when I think about it.”
“She had just moved from a small primary to a much larger secondary school, and I was really worried about her. She’s had some mean comments but she doesn’t care and wants to keep it short, like Lewis.”
Anna Bedocs braves the shave to raise money for seven-year-old Lewis Weinman
I’m so incredibly proud of what she did. It makes me cry when I think about it
Mrs Bedocs said that when Anna heard about brave the save she said: "I have a choice but Lewis hasn’t."
Her mother added: “That’s just the kind of girl she is and it makes me so emotional.”
Little Lewis was diagnosed with Medulloblastomas, an aggressive cancerous tumour on the brain, on November 4, following a CAT scan in which he nearly passed out.
Lewis is pictured with his father, Stephen, and his mother Marie
Lewis first started experiencing symptoms on October 25, the day of his seventh birthday.
His parents Marie and Stephen, both 39, first believed he was suffering from a stomach bug, until he started suffering extreme headaches.
He was then rushed to hospital, where doctors confirmed he was suffering from a rare form of cancer.
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Lewis is currently two weeks in to his six-week-long radiotherapy treatment, which he has to have every week day.
After that, he will need further chemotherapy. His battle with cancer is expected to last two years.
Friends and family of Lewis Weinman have shaved their heads in support of illness
Mrs Weinman, who was worried Lewis would feel alone so also pledged to go bald, said: ”I just felt so helpless and this was something I could do.
"I asked Lewis about it and he laughed his head off. That’s when I knew we had to do it.”
“I was so touched by the number of people who joined in. it was an incredible response to have.
"Lewis absolutely loved it and made us all feel a lot better, if a little colder.
"It was wonderful to see him smile like that again and we can’t thank everyone enough - especially Anna, she’s a really kind girl.”