Toowoomba mum and daughter shave their heads in honour of relative with cancer

Toowoomba East State School was brought to tears after Scarlett Cox shaved her head to honour her uncle who is fighting stage four cancer.

Scarlett Cox and her mum Erin Cox both shaving their heads in honour of Scarlett's uncle.

Scarlett Cox inspired hundreds of her classmates at Toowoomba East State School when she bravely shaved her head for her uncle who is fighting stage four cancer.

Raising more than $850 towards the Leukaemia foundation, nine-year-old Scarlett and her mum Erin Cox shaved their heads on Tuesday, March 26 in honour of Scarlett’s Uncle Dan.

Scarlett and her mum Erin Cox shaving their heads in honour of Scarlett's uncle.

More than 134,000 people are currently living with blood cancer or a related blood disorder in Australia today.

Dan Cox was diagnosed with stage four blood cancer just over a year ago and Ms Cox said it is not a good diagnosis.

“Unfortunately it’s metastasizing into other places so its not a good diagnosis,” she said.

“But he’s fighting and we are all supporting him.”

Scarlett and her mum Erin Cox shaving their heads in honour of Scarlett's uncle.

Ms Cox is a nurse at St Andrews Toowoomba Hospital, and the hospital is matching the donations raised.

Scarlett said it was “very very scary” having her hair shaved off but it was easier with her mum by her side and she really wanted to do this for her uncle.

Scarlett Cox, Karen Antuar, and Erin Cox at the Shave for a Cure.

Scarlett’s grandma Karen Antuar said it was really special to be there to see her daughter and granddaughter doing something so brave.

“We talked about, you know, ‘Uncle Dan has cancer and this is helping him and lots of other people with cancer,’” she said.

“Someone who’s got cancer and is struggling with their life is going to get a beautiful wig of auburn coloured hair.”

Scarlett Cox, Karen Antuar, Erin Cox, and Adham White at the Shave for a Cure.

Toowoomba East State School Principal Richard Gibson asked the crowd of students why someone might be nervous to shave their head.

One student said, “what other people might think”.

Scarlett's Year 3 teacher Nikki Wills supporting her at the Shave for a Cure.

Mr Gibson told the students that there was one thing they could do to support Scarlett.

“We are going to see Scarlett with no hair and instead of mentioning that she looks different, we can look at her and think about the awesome thing she has done,” he said.

“It takes a lot of courage to do this and I strongly admire her.

“This morning is a fine example of how an older person can look at a young person for inspiration.”

All donations are still welcome on Scarlett’s donation page at worldsgreatestshave.com/fundraisers/scarlettcox

Toowoomba East State School students giving Scarlett and Erin a standing ovation.

Originally published as Toowoomba mum and daughter shave their heads in honour of relative with cancer