When Evette Albers’ best friend Ellie Hawkins died of cancer just after they both turned seven, the loss was so painful that she would cry herself to sleep.
Then this extraordinary New Plymouth youngster discovered a way to heal her pain – and to pay tribute to her brave and dear friend, who died in June after a three-year battle with leukemia.
“Evette read about a woman at our local supermarket who was shaving her head and asking for sponsorship to help cancer patients,” explains Evette’s mum Liza.
“As soon as she finished reading the article, Evette said, ‘I want to do that too.'”
Evette and Ellie met as toddlers at daycare and became instant friends. When Ellie was diagnosed at the age of four, Evette wholeheartedly supported her friend as much as she could – even during Evette’s most painful times.
“Their relationship didn’t change,” explains Liza. “When Ellie was extremely sick, lying in bed, unable to talk or respond, it didn’t matter to Evette. She was like, ‘Ellie is still my friend, and I’m going to be there for her.’
“When they were together, they were always giggling and calling each other ‘Smelly Bellies’. Evette knew Ellie was ill, but didn’t treat her any differently.”
When Ellie lost her battle with the disease in June, Evette was overcome with grief at losing her best buddy.
only the thought of being able to do something important in Ellie’s memory, and to help children like her, gave her new focus.
She remembered Ellie losing her hair while having chemotherapy and she wanted to look like that too. It was a huge step for big-hearted Evette. Blessed with long blonde hair, the thought of going super short would have ended in tears for most little girls – but not her.
“oy friend was brave and lost all her hair, so I knew I could do it too,” explains Evette.
At a packed assembly last month, in front of the kids at Frankley School in New Plymouth, Evette had all her hair shaved off. As each golden lock fell to the floor, she thought of Ellie and how courageous she had been.
Her loving sacrifice has brought many people to tears. “She amazes me,” says Liza, brushing her hand over Ellie’s now soft, downy crop.
“It’s not something I could have done at her age. It’s amazing that a seven-year-old child is making this personal statement by doing this.
“At the same time, it’s helped her heal. It stopped the tears, knowing that she could do something to help other kids.”
Evette has already raised more than $2000 for the Child Cancer Foundation and has donated her hair to a company that makes wigs for children with cancer.
And although Evette is missing her long hair, she knows what she has done will benefit other children and that her best friend would be very proud of her.
“It felt different afterwards,” she explains. “I miss my hair but I’ve decided that having no hair is cool, and I miss Ellie more. I miss her kindness and her spirit. She was a very good friend.”
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