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Eight-year-old Keremeos girl raises $2,100 for cancer society

With the community’s help Haylie Glada raised $2,100 for the cancer society and 16 inches of hair.
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Tara Bowie Eight-year-old Haylie Glada had one heck of a great birthday party on Sunday. With the community’s help she raised $2,100 for the cancer society and donated 16 inches of hair.

Haylie Glada is aging wonderfully.

She turned a year older on Sunday, headed into the new year with less hair than before, like so many of us, and already accomplished a major goal.

Over the course of the last month or so, Haylie with the help of her family, friends and the community, raised just over $2,100 for the BC Cancer Foundation. She also had 16 inches of hair cut off during her Party with a Purpose to be donated to the Wigs for Kids program.

“Thank you for everyone who came to my birthday party,” Haylie said with a smile on Sunday.

She was an eight-year-old who understandably did not have too much time or too many words for the press at her birthday party. She was very busy entertaining the more than 100 guests that attended her special day in Memorial Park.

There was a live band Lu Lu and the Lazy Boys that were playing, prize games, cupcakes and climbers to play on.

When asked what she thought about her new shorter hair cut she simply said, “I love it,” and agreed it felt lighter.

Her mom, though, Stacey Lebeau had glowing remarks for her daughter and the community at large.

“I really think this whole event is incredible and I’m super, super proud of Haylie for doing this and I’m super proud of the community that we live in for all coming together. Without everybody this wouldn’t be possible,” she said.

Several of the young girl’s family members and friends have battled cancer or are still battling and Haylie set her mind to wanting to help.

Haylie had the idea to cut her hair short and donate it to make a wig quite awhile ago.

Her mom said she’d had long hair for years and that she’d only really ever had trims.

As her hair continued to grow so did the little girl’s aspirations of making an impact.

Headed into the event Sunday there was about $500 raised through a variety of initiatives.

Haylie handmade a keychains that people could buy through donation and suckers were made and sold at Emmy’s Bake Shop earlier this spring as a fundraiser. Many people stopped by the bakery to drop off personal donations.

Then the idea to turn her party into a community event so more funds could be raised was developed.

Haylie along with her Grandma frequented many of the businesses in town to ask for donations for prizes.

“The support has been great. Haylie learned a lot through this and had a lot of fun. It’s been just incredible. Thank you to everyone.” Lebeau said.