Girl, 10, Bravely Shaves Head to Raise Money After Dad Dies From Cancer
Tallulah Lewis-Schulz, 10, shaved her head to raise money for her local hospice.
— -- A young British girl has volunteered to have her head shaved in an effort to raise money for the hospice that cared for her dying father.
"I'm immensely proud of her," mom Sarah Lewis-Schulz told ABC News. "I couldn't believe it. It made me really see how much determination, bravery and selflessness she has.
Lewis-Schulz said her husband, Andreas, had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on April 13. Three weeks later, he was brought to Severn Hospice in Shrewsbury, England.
On May 23, the couple, who had been together for 18 years and had two children together, finally tied the knot at Severn.
"We got married in the hospice because he'd always wanted to get married," Lewis-Schulz said. "I wanted to fulfill all his dreams and wishes before it was too late."
Three days after their wedding, Andreas passed away.
"From our loss we've gained a lot more strength and togetherness," Lewis-Schulz said. "Sometimes I don't want to get out of bed in the morning, but when I see [the children's] little faces, I know I need to get on and be brave.
"With Tallulah especially, it took a little time for her emotions to come out," she added. "I think it set in for her the day before her head was shaved."
Earlier this week, Lewis-Schulz said her oldest daughter Tallulah, 10, approached her with an interesting request after listening to a radio campaign featuring "Brave the Shave" -- a cause in which people shave their heads in an effort to raise funds for cancer patients.
"We started talking about it and Tallulah said to me 'Oh I would do that and raise the money for the hospice and to thank them for all the support they gave to our family,'" Lewis-Schulz said. "I said 'Look, why don't you think about it and let me know.'"
Three days later, Lewis-Schulz said Tallulah made up her mind and received a buzz cut in front of her classmates. The local news station documented the occasion.
Over 12 inches of her hair will be donated and made into a wig for a child who's lost his or her hair from cancer treatment, Lewis-Schulz said.
"At first I was a bit apprehensive thinking Andreas wouldn't have let her do this because he was known to be a very protective father," Lewis-Schulz said. "But then Tallulah reminded me how he the hospice staff were wonderful.
"Tallulah was right," she added. "He would be really proud of her and realize the strength and determination she has a young girl."
The family has set up a page on Justgiving.com, to collect donations for Severn Hospice. More than $7,500 has been collected so far.
“Tallulah is an amazing young lady and what she has done for Severn Hospice is absolutely incredible -- she is raising thousands of pounds for our hospice," said Lucy Ruff, fundraising manager at Severn Hospice. "Severn Hospice couldn't exist without the people in our community fundraising for us. We need to raise £7 million a year, every year, to keep providing palliative care to local people."
Lewis-Schulz said she, Tallulah and her youngest daughter Poppy will continue fundraising for the next few months. They plan on hand-delivering the money to Severn Hospice.
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