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Young girl shaves head for friend with cancer

Mar 4, 2013 | 5:21 AM

People shaving their heads to raise money for cancer research is nothing new, it’s been a campaign that has lived under many names for years.

But when an 11-year-old girl decides she wants to shave her head to raise money with no campaign to follow, only to support her friend who has cancer, that is a type of maturity and bravery not seen in many children or even some adults.

So when Madison Simpson approached her mother Jackie Gareau about shaving her head to raise money for her friend with cancer, her mother was surprised to say the least.

“I was really surprised,” Gareau said. “I almost had to talk her through it, you will have absolutely no hair, but she said that’s okay, you always told me it would grow back. I just thought ‘oh my gosh maybe I am doing something right.’”

Simpson did not want to reveal the identity of her friend as she wants this donation and her small campaign to be a surprise; however she said they had been to the same babysitter together in years past.

Simpson said she would whatever she could to help out a friend in need.

“It’s like the smallest thing you could do for a friend, but I’d always do something for a friend, and cancer sucks,” said Simpson, stating she’s had family members who suffered from cancer as well.

When it came to looking for donations they were only going to ask family members for money, then Gareau posted it on her Facebook and from there people around their community began to chip in as well.

“It was awesome to see because you don’t see that very often,” said Gareau. “A dollar makes a big difference, it’ll go far.”

Gareau said when it comes to her daughter type of behaviour is not a new development.

“She’s always had such a big heart, like she just cares about everything and she worries about everyone,” Gareau said.

And when you talk to Simpson you wouldn’t have trouble believing it with her light hearted attitude and tendency to giggle when talking about shaving her head, she clearly is a young girl with a very positive outlook on life.

When it came to the large ordeal of shaving away her hair, Simpson only wanted her mother to do it.

“So she said shave it, I want you to do it you’re going to do it right now,” Gareau said. “It just makes you want to cry in a good way, because you’re thinking you don’t see that much of people caring about other people.”

When asked how she thought she would feel about her hair being completely shaved off, Simpson had a sunny outlook.

“It’ll be okay my hair will grow back,” said Simpson with a giggle.

Simpson had her mother shave her head Saturday at St. Joseph’s Parish.

jbowler@panow.com

On Twitter: @journalistjim