Ella Steele and Novella Rusman, both "seven and a half," have been best friends since Grade 1.
So when Novella decided to chop off her hair in support of cancer research, her best friend was right there beside her.
"My mom told me my Nan has cancer and was going to lose her hair," said Novella. "I decided to cut off my hair and give it to people who have cancer."
The soft-spoken blonde pointed to just above her waist to show how long her hair was beforehand. She donated 14 inches of hair and raised more than $1,600 for cancer research this August, while Ella donated eight inches of hair and raised over $800.
"My mom is proud of me," Ella said with a smile. She lost her great-grandpa to cancer three years ago and her grandpa to the disease just last January.
With their matching short bobs bouncing in the wind last Friday afternoon, the two Grade 2 friends were full of energy, getting ready to run in Happy Valley elementary's annual Terry Fox Run, which raised $564.69 this year through donations from students and teachers.
acowan@goldstreamgazette.com