Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home News Education

Kenmore school community raises more than $16,000 for young student with cancer

byStaff writers
17 May 2018 - Updated on 16 March 2021
Reading Time: 2 mins read
AA
Students shave their head for a cure at Kenmore

Standing together: Event organiser Mandy van Deventer with two Year 5 boys who shaved for their mate. Photos: Brian Bower/Anne Atkinson

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Students shave their head for a cure at Kenmore
Standing together: Event organiser Mandy van Deventer with two Year 5 boys who shaved for their mate. Photos: Brian Bower/Anne Atkinson

WHEN the community of Our Lady of the Rosary, Kenmore, heard that one of the youngest members of its school family had been diagnosed with cancer, it decided to stand up and act.

It was late last year that Mitchell, a Year 3 student at OLR, was diagnosed with lymphoma.

Mitchell’s family wrote in a letter, “Having our seven-year old son diagnosed with cancer at the end of last year was devastation.

“Our life was turned upside down over night and the prospect of our son facing months of treatment was daunting.
“We are so proud of Mitchell and the incredible bravery he showed while he endured invasive procedures and several rounds of intense chemo.”

After hearing about Mitchell’s diagnosis, tuckshop convenor and mother to four OLR students Mandy van Deventer and a Year 5 student, Jarvis Czarkowski, spoke about organising a fundraiser.

The school community quickly rallied behind them for a World’s Greatest Shave event, which resulted in more than 20 shaved and coloured heads. But it didn’t stop there; more than 484 students had their heads spray-coloured by senior students as a show of solidarity.

The community raised more than $16,000.

“We stood together today as a community, we stood together to raise funds and awareness for this debilitating disease,” Mrs van Deventer said.

“Today … was about coming together as one.”

Mitchell’s family wrote, “While we are so thankful (Mitchell) has responded very well to treatment, we hope that this money we have raised can go towards finding a cure for this terrible disease, so people like Mitchell don’t have to go through the terrible side-effects of chemo.”

Related Stories

Catholic doctor who has reversed onset of endometrial cancer welcomes new research

Stuartholme girls end senior year by raising $36,000 for cancer research

Matt Foxon inspired to make his home parish a place for youth to meet God

Local hairdressers gave up their time to come to the school to shave and colour the participants’ hair.

Children involved said it was a great success too, especially getting to see some of their teachers and parents shave or colour their heads.

A Year 6 student who attended the day said, “Today was so wonderful because we got to support OLR students who are currently receiving treatment but also to support everyone suffering from cancer.”

Principal Andrew Oberthur said it was great to see the school, parish and broader community rally behind the fundraiser for cancer research.

“While the affected families in the OLR community are walking a tough journey, they know they are supported through this display of unity,” he said.

Kenmore school fundraisers for cancer patient
Spreading hope: Our Lady of the Rosary community members being brave and shaving for a cure.
ShareTweet
Previous Post

Children and domestic violence: ‘There is never any harm in seeking support’

Next Post

Nigerian martyrs ‘will cleanse the country of all its filth’, Catholics believe

Staff writers

Related Posts

Dr Brendan Miller
Australia

Catholic doctor who has reversed onset of endometrial cancer welcomes new research

27 November 2020
News

Stuartholme girls end senior year by raising $36,000 for cancer research

15 October 2020
People

Matt Foxon inspired to make his home parish a place for youth to meet God

13 October 2020 - Updated on 16 March 2021
Next Post
Nigeria

Nigerian martyrs 'will cleanse the country of all its filth', Catholics believe

Our Lady of Akita

First Australian chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Akita being built in Brisbane

Philippines women

Toowoomba lay women make life-changing trip to the Philippines

Popular News

  • Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

    Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Christian Brothers’ community mourn the passing of Brother Tony White

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • All Catholics invited to pray rosary for peace with Pope Francis next Tuesday

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Latest News

Vatican

All Catholics invited to pray rosary for peace with Pope Francis next Tuesday

by Staff writers
27 May 2022
0

By Catholic News Agency THE Vatican is inviting Catholics to join Pope Francis in praying the rosary...

Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria

Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria

27 May 2022
Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

26 May 2022
Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

26 May 2022
Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting

Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting

26 May 2022

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping