A desire to see her best friend live a long and healthy life inspired a Margaret River girl to cut off her locks last week.
Bella Fairbrass raised $1700 for Conquer Cystic Fibrosis South West, a volunteer-run charity focussed on funding research into the devastating disease.
She was inspired by her friend Arrabella who has Cystic Fibrosis.
Cystic Fibrosis is a life-shortening genetic disease primarily impacting the lungs and digestive system.
Those with the disease take between 20 to 40 tablets daily and undergo twice-daily chest physiotherapy and nebulisers.
In her appeal to raise research funds Bella pledged that if she raised $150 she would allow Arrabella to cut her hair off.
“Arrabella is my best friend, she is kind, caring and funny,” Bella said.
“Most of all, she is brave and it makes me very proud of her.”
As promised, Bella allowed Arrabella to cut off her ponytail at the final St Thomas More Primary School assembly on Friday.
At the same assembly, a further $1000 cheque was handed over to the charity and a further $1000 for the River Angels. Those funds were raised through a colour run hosted by the school this year.
Conquer Cystic Fibrosis South West coordinator Taryn Barrett praised the school’s community-mindedness.
“It was incredibly special to witness Bella’s teary appeal at the assembly and how strongly the St Thomas More school community has rallied behind Arrabella,” Mrs Barrett said.
“She is certainly an incredible girl and advocate. She doesn’t let Cystic Fibrosis get in her way, goes about her life with a smile on her face and that is made easier because of that amazing support network behind her.
“Hopefully by continuing to fund the promising research undertaken here in WA, Arrabella and the 3300 other Australians with CF will be granted the chance to grow old and have a greater quality of life."
Arrabella has become a prominent advocate for the disease in recent years and officially opened the Capel Vale Conquer Cystic Fibrosis Grand Ball in front of 600 guests at Crown Perth in May.
Along with her parents, Joel and Elle Lawrence, she is hoping to continue that support in 2019.
For more information on the charity, visit www.conquercysticfibrosis.com
