Sammy Collins: St Luke’s super hero student raises $5300 for Bear Cottage

A schoolgirl who raised $5300 for Bear Cottage — in memory of her best buddy — has been named a Super Hero by NSW Fire and Rescue brigades on the northern beaches.

Samantha 'Sammy' Collins, 11, of Narraweena, raised more than $5300 for the Bear Cottage children's hospice at Manly in memory of her best friend Neve Brady who died in 2014. Sammy received a Super Hero Medal from NSW Fire and Rescue for her efforts. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

Samantha ‘Sammy’ Collins and Neve Brady were best buddies when they were little and lived on the same street.

But, sadly, Neve died in 2014, when she was just five years old, from leukaemia.

The beautiful little girl spent her last two nights at Manly’s Bear Cottage where she, and her family, were lovingly looked after.

Samantha 'Sammy' Collins, 11, with NSW Fire and Rescue Zone Commander Kel McNamara (in cap) and firefighters from the Dee Why brigade – Michael Long, Narelle Hunter, John Wright and Paul Brierley during their visit to Narraweena. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

Sammy, a Year 6 student at St Luke’s Grammar at Dee Why, has never forgotten Neve, who lived at Freshwater, and wanted to do something positive for Bear Cottage to honour her memory.

Neve, who lost her blonde hair during her cancer treatment, loved Sammy’s long dark brown tresses.

Samantha 'Sammy' Collins, 11, of Narraweena, before she had her hair radically shortened to raise more than $5300 for the Bear Cottage children's hospice at Manly in memory of her best friend Neve Brady. Picture: Supplied

So Sammy, 11, who now lives at Narraweena, decided to grow her hair longer recently and then have most of her locks cut off so she could give it to Wigs 4 Kids — a group that organises the creation and distribution of wigs to children who lose their hair during medical treatment.

Sammy used the hair donation as a fundraising tool and asked people, with the support of the St Luke’s school community, to sponsor her. She raised $5370, which has gone to Bear Cottage in memory of Neve.

Best friends – Neve Brady and Sammy Collins. Picture: Supplied

Sammy said she was originally trying to raise $3000, but people just kept on giving.

Her mum Katie said that when Sammy saw Neve had lost her hair when they were little girls, she wished she could give her some of her own.

“Sammy has spoken for a long time about doing something for Bear Cottage,” Katie said.

Samantha 'Sammy' Collins, 11, with her friend Neve's mum Kelly Evans (left) and her own mum, Katie Collins (right). Picture: Jim O'Rourke

Neve’s mum, Kelly Evans, who was at Narraweena for the medal ceremony, said she would be forever grateful to Bear Cottage.

“The delightful thing about Neve and Bear Cottage is that we wanted to take Neve home, but she just wanted to stay,” Kelly said.

Neve Brady, with her mum Kelly Evans. Picture: Manly Daily

When the NSW Fire and Rescue brigades on the northern beaches heard about Sammy’s great effort, they wanted to acknowledge her work for Bear Cottage.

Zone Commander Kel McNamara organised a fire truck, and its crew, from the Dee Why Brigade, to visit Sammy’s home on Tuesday afternoon where she was presented with a special NSW Fire and Rescue Super Hero Medal.

“We wanted to thank Sammy for what she did and encourage other people to support Bear Cottage,” Cdr McNamara said.