Kelowna

When you think of all the things it might be tough for a young girl to give up, you might list her cell phone, I-pod or laptop, but how about her hair?

Jenna Matchett of Kelowna is nine years-old, a grade four student at Casorso Elementary and now almost completely bald.

Photo: Contributed

Jenna Matchett gave up all of her hair to support the BC Cancer Foundation.

Jenna braved shaving her head on Saturday, December 3, and in the process raised $1,000 and donated her golden locks to the BC Cancer Foundation .

“It started with wanting to donate my hair but some of my friends and family said they wanted to pledge money,” says Jenna.

Moved by the number of friends and family that have been affected by cancer, she wanted to make a difference and her family supported her every step of the way.

“Her courage and passion for making a difference is an inspiration to us,” says mother Kari O’Rourke. “We are proud and it makes us want to in turn do something meaningful for others.”

The BC Cancer Foundation is the bridge that connects philanthropic support and research breakthroughs in cancer knowledge.

As the fundraising partner of the BC Cancer Agency and the largest charitable funder of cancer research in the province, the foundation enables donors to make contributions to leading-edge research that has a direct impact on improvements to cancer care for patients at Kelowna's Cancer Centre, the Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins Centre for the Southern Interior.

The family would like to thank all of the friends and family that have donated and Mirror Mirror Salon staff in supporting Jenna’s efforts.