Marnee Walters finally faced up the scissors on Saturday, gifting her golden locks to Variety-The Children’s Chariety.
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The six-year-old’s hair measured 40 centimetres when it was cut, a huge help for Variety which will use the hair to make wigs for kids with cancer.
The hair donation was inspired by Marnee’s four-year-old friend Adelaide Gurr who lost her hair during treatment for leukaemia. The former Gunnedah girl and her family moved to Maitland in January 2016 and 12 days later she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.
Marnee’s mother, Meleah has been actively involved in the hair donation, starting a GoFundMe campaign in January to highlight the reason behind Marnee’s good deed, and raise money to help the Gurrs with ongoing costs and medical bills. More than $5000 has been raised so far.
Marnee and her family travelled to Newcastle for the haircut so Adelaide and her family could be present.
Meleah said everything went according to plan with around 20 people gathering in the home salon of the Gurr’s family friend and hairdresser. As the hairdresser prepared Marnee’s hair, dividing it into separate pony tails to prevent hair loss, Meleah said Marnee began to get nervous.
“We thought it was an intimate number of people and it actually turned out to be a little overwhelming for her,” Meleah said.
Instead of some of the kids taking a turn cutting off a pony tail, the hairdresser made the initial cut.
“We just wanted to keep it pretty relaxed for her so it only took about 30 seconds to cut it,” Meleah said.
“We were there probably there for another half hour while the hairdresser actually styled it and [Marnee] was pretty chuffed with it once it was done.”
After the deed was done, the Walters went to the Gurrs house and had a mini party in celebration. Kirran Gurr had organised a cake that had the words ‘Superhero Marnee’ piped in icing and it was proclaimed a “happy hair day”.
“Adelaide gave Marnee a pair of star earrings as a gift, saying that Marnee’s a superstar,” Meleah said.
“Adelaide didn’t leave Marnee’s side the entire time she was at the hairdresser. She was really kind of intrigued about what was happening. It was quite funny because Kirran’s been trying to get her to have a trim … and she wouldn’t have a bar of it.”
Kirran said Saturday was “a day to remember”.
“Watching Marnee cut her hair off was emotional and amazing,” she said.
“She is such a thoughtful, giving child who we love dearly.”
Over the weekend, Meleah said she was concerned that she might misplace Marnee’s cut hair but it made it back to Gunnedah safely and was posted off to Variety.
Meleah said Marnee was very excited that she didn’t need help to do her hair for school, but was still a bit worried about having a short haircut for the first time.
“We needed to give her lots of praise and reassurance,” Meleah said.
“I think she’s feeling a little bit lost but she’ll get used to it.
”It’s something that Marnee will remember for the rest of her life. It was really unforgettable.”
Meleah has been gathering mementos including a lock of Marnee’s hair and articles from the Namoi Valley Independent.
“We’re just sort of in that process of making sure things are recorded so Marnee’s got some memories of it,” she said.
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