Twenty years on Kerri's friends and family members are shaving their heads this March in memory of her brave battle.
FORMER Wingham residents, Donna Gadd (nee Harragon) and Emma Mcintosh (nee Howse) have combined with Donna’s cousin Trish Miller to form ‘Kerri’s Team’ and entered into the “World’s Greatest Shave”.
Kerri’s Team is in memory of Donna’s younger sister, Kerri, and Emma’s friend and next door neighbour who contracted leukaemia when she was seven years of age.
The cheeky youngster dealt with her illness in a positive manner for six years before dying just after her 13th birthday in 1991.
Donna, Emma and Trish have gone on to have families of their own and this year have decided to emulate Kerri by going for the bald look in an effort to raise funds to assist leukaemia research in improving patient outcomes.
Donna, Emma and Trish intend to follow Kerri’s example from when she was bald due to the effects of chemotherapy.
“She was never embarrassed, if anything she was comfortable with it and chided anyone who dared to continue to stare at her, she never contemplated wearing a wig and rarely wore a beanie even in the middle of winter,” Donna said.
Kerri had tremendous support from the Wingham community during her illness especially from the school community who were ever vigilant for any illnesses among students that could pose a risk to Kerri when her immune system was affected by her treatment.
Donna, Emma and Trish are passionate about helping this cause and encourage everyone to become involved by adding their sponsorship, large or small, to their ever growing total. Their locks will be shorn during March.
To sponsor, go to the ‘World’s Greatest Shave’ website and search for ‘Kerri’s Team’ where sponsorship can be added to the tally.
