A nine-year-old Mandurah boy shaved his head in front of his entire school on Friday as a tribute to his friend who was diagnosed with leukemia at aged four.
Last year Kota Rossi told his mother he wanted to shave his head to raise money for blood cancer research, to support his friend Xavier Westcott, and he kept his pledge.
“He watched Xavier be diagnosed with Leukemia at aged four and the treatment was three years,” Mrs Rossi said.
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“Kota’s so sensitive and all he wanted to do was help. He got the idea to shave his head when he saw another mother do the shave, when Xavier was still in treatment two years ago.”
Mrs Rossi said her son’s valiant decision was not out of character.
“To be honest it didn’t surprise me,” Mrs Rossi said. “Kota’s always had a bit of an old soul, since the minute he was born.”
Assumption Catholic Primary School held a special ceremony for the big shave that principal Kerrie Merritt opened, followed by a speech from Mrs Rossi who outlined Kota’s journey.
Kota sat grinning ear-to-ear at the front on a chair and looked like he was having the time of his life.
Xavier was called on stage to sit with his friend and quietly watched the event play out, clearly humbled by his friend’s overt and loving gesture.
The shaver was passed around from teachers to students to Kota’s little sister Kiara and father Michael, who fixed up the patches at the end.
Following the shave, Kota jumped up and did a dance that was greeted with a huge applause from the crowd.
Mrs Rossi said Kota had raised about $3000 for blood cancer, and they were still counting.
The event runs annually until Sunday, March 18.