Reprinted from The Packet, May 20, 2016
by Danette Dooley
Six-year-old Sydney Sparkes
Sydney Sparkes of Hodge’s Cove includes a relative and two family friends who have died of cancer in her nightly prayers.
When the six-year-old heard about an event that raises money for people with cancer called Shave for the Brave, she told her mother, Stephanie Sparkes, she’d like to shave her head to remember the people she prays for.
Sydney is a Grade One student at Southwest Arm Academy in Little Heart’s Ease.
She started her fundraising about three weeks ago.
By mid-afternoon Wednesday, she’d raised $5,539.
Sydney’s initial idea was to raise $400. When she reached that goal she set her sights higher, her mother said.
The majority of the donations came from word of mouth, Stephanie said, and saw people visiting Sydney’s link on the Shave for the Brave website (www.shaveforthebrave.ca) to donate.
Sydney’s biggest single donation ($500) came from Junior Peddle on behalf of Clarenville Ford.
Sydney will shave her head on Friday afternoon along with six other students at her school.
The child’s fundraising efforts have been far-reaching, her mother said.
“Sydney was all excited because our MHA Colin Holloway spoke about her fundraising in the House of Assembly last week. The Grade Ones, Twos and Threes at her school watched the live stream in her class,” Stephanie said.
Southwest Arm Academy vice-principal Gary Greening said the entire school body will be on hand Friday afternoon to see the students shave their heads for the cause.
It’s the school’s third year participating in Shave for the Brave, he said.
All donations to the Shave for the Brave help Young Adult Cancer Canada (YACC).
When contacted by phone after school on Wednesday, Sydney said she was excited about raising money for people with cancer.
“I’m doing Shave for the Brave. I raised over fifty-five hundred dollars,” she said.
YACC executive director, Geoff Eaton said Shave for the Brave provides essential funds for YACC support programs.
“Life is different when you are a young adult, cancer is, too. None of your buddies have cancer and they can’t relate to your fertility issues, fear of the future or loss of independence. The young adults in YACC’s network can,” Eaton said via e-mail.
YACC’s support is delivered digitally in a variety of web initiatives, Eaton said, through local, fun social events and four day retreats, adventures and conferences that are proven to increase feelings of hope, quality of life and connection to a community.
Shavers like Sydney, he said, are a great example of little people doing such big things for others.
“Without them we can’t change the lives of young adults facing the end of theirs. On behalf of all the young adults we serve, thank you to Sydney, her school community and everyone who supports the Shave for the Brave,” Eaton said.