Cancer is a modern plague. This disease has devastated numerous families all around the world, leaving unforgettable scars and trauma. The worst-case scenario is when cancer is diagnosed in the case of young children.

Everyone’s life is invaluable, but when such a tragedy hits an innocent little kid, it is heartwrenching. Children live in a pure, and virtuous world on their own, and the story of a kind little lad supporting his ill friend broke the hearts of many.

The seven-year-old Olly Spencer was shocked to see that one of his classmates, Tommy-Lee Hetherington, had lost his hair. When he came home from Woolden Hill Primary School, Olly asked his mum if he could shave his head in support of his friend.

This young Olly before the cut: 

Tommy-Lee was diagnosed with leukemia in November last year. He is now in remission, and since Olly shaved his head, they have become best friends.

Olly said:

“I came home from school and asked my mummy if I could shave my head, so Tommy-Lee wasn’t the only boy in school with no hair. Tommy-Lee has become my best friend. We play and work together at school.

When Tommy-Lee had no hair, it made me feel sad and I didn’t want him to be alone. I wanted to help Tommy-Lee as he has cancer and I wanted the cancer to go away. I raised money for the charity that supports him and others by shaving my head, so we could both be bald together.

We are best friends and always look out for each other in everything we do. Tommy-Lee will always be my best friend and I will support him wherever I can.”

Apart from supporting him by shaving his head, Olly has raised £1,200 for Macmillan Cancer Support to help other sick youngsters at Leicester Royal Infirmary.

This is Olly after the cut: 

The leukemia diagnosis devastated the entire family of Tommy-Lee. 

His mother Kelly said:

 “Tommy-Lee was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, which was totally unexpected. It devastated our family and turned our lives upside down overnight. They told us his treatment will last for three and a half years.

He started his chemotherapy immediately with an intensive stage of steroids, blood transfusions and lumbar punctures. But through every stage, he has been upbeat and taken everything in his stride, a real brave little soldier who doesn’t deserve this cruel illness.”

During his treatment, the young boy battled sepsis, an enlarged pancreas, and a collapsed lung. However, despite all difficulties, he remained to be a very happy and positive boy. 

Kelly added that she is also very proud of Olly, and his awesome gesture.  Olly’s mum Sally explained that Olly has always been helpful to his peers: 

“Tommy-Lee started school in the new term and Olly went out of his way to ensure he felt welcomed and not alone.

When Olly made friends with Tommy-Lee, he soon realized something wasn’t right. He came to terms with knowing Tommy-Lee was ill but didn’t know what the illness was.

After several days he came home from school and said: ‘I want to help people like Tommy-Lee, I don’t want him to be at school alone with no hair, I want to shave my head.’

This inspired the idea for Brave the Shave. According to Brave The Shave website, thousands of people are getting sponsored to shave their hair for Macmillan Cancer Support, and since 2015, brave shavers have managed to raise more than £22.7 million.

“We helped Olly find out about the process and started to promote the sponsored event. After people heard the story of Olly and Tommy-Lee the funds soon started to come in. Olly and Tommy-Lee have become very close friends, often telling each other ‘you’re my best friend’, Sally said.

 Sally added that they are all proud of Olly, not only for being brave to carry out such an event but also for being such a supportive, true friend. Children are the symbols of joy and purity, aren’t they? They are a true blessing and we can (and we should) learn so much from them.

 “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. “ Matthew 18:2-4

Sources:
www.unilad.co.uk
www.mirror.co.uk
bravetheshave.macmillan.org.uk