Giving what they can to help those in need

Shannon LeClair

Times Reporter

 

Two brave students from Westmount Elementary School sat in front of the entire school on April 15 to shave their heads for cancer. Karter Kozma and Chase Petruska have never shaved their heads before, and admitted it was a little scary at first doing it in front of the whole school. 

“At first, and then, once we talked, it felt a little bit better,” said Kozma.

The boys gave a speech to the school to inform all of the kids about what they were doing.  

“We’re going to give the donations to the Children’s Hospital foundation in Calgary,” said Kozma.

Kozma said his mom had seen a two-month-old baby going through chemotherapy at the Children’s Hospital. Originally the boys were going to donate to cancer, but he said after that they decided on the Children’s Hospital Oncology research.

“Chase was just a really good supporting friend and did it with him. So it was great, because it would be hard to be the only one up here. It was nice that Chase grew his and joined him,” said Lynne Kozma, Karter’s mom.    

“Because we’re friends and I had my hair long enough and I was going to do it before, I was going to do it at home. Then I heard that he was doing it at school so I joined him,” said Petruska, about why he joined his friend Karter. 

“When he started growing his hair out, for hockey hair, for the hockey season, he kept saying he didn’t want to cut it because he wanted to shave it off,” said Tracy Petruska, Chase’s mom. 

“I’m just proud that he could actually go through with it because that must have been, nearing the end it was looking a little tough. They worked hard and they had a goal, and it makes you really proud,” said Tracy.  

As of April 15, the boys had raised $2,000 for the Children’s Hospital, and will continue collecting donations until May 6. The boys are also donating their hair to Locks of Love.