A thousand dollars was enough to put Byron Bay High School’s Principal, Janine Marcus, in the barber’s chair as a fundraiser for year-12 student Livi Eddington who has been receiving experimental treatment in the US for his rare and aggressive form of brain cancer. Deputy Principal, Kristy Collins, then raised the bar to $20,000 to be raised in less than 24 hours, to join her and have her head shaved as well.
Raised over $30,000
The school and the community came together raising $35,147.20 which saw both the principal and deputy principal in the barber’s chair.
Livi’s dad Blake said, ‘Livi has been to the US for two treatments, the last of which caused quite severe seizures, which have since settled down. We now need to travel back to North Carolina for another round of T cell treatment,’ he told The Echo.
Livi’s treatment is part of a registered clinical trial with the FDA, the US equivalent of the Australian TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration). Even though it’s experimental, it is rigorous first-world medicine.
Teacher Kelly Caoyonan said the students had been keen to find a way to support their friend.
‘The cohort just wanted to do something for him,’ she said. ‘Obviously, we wanted to raise more than $1,000.’
Year-12 advisers Lara Cranfield and Leah Miles have been key organisers of the fundraiser and the school’s support for Livi.
Friday’s activities include a mufti day with gold coin donations, live music, a cake stall, sausage sandwiches and snow cones. ‘We Stand With Livi’ caps are also being sold for $25. Donations can still be made through its ‘bald principal’ GoFundMe page at: www.gofundme.com/f/help-raise-1000-for-livi-our-principal-goes-bald.
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