Aurelia Reeves, a Grade 5 student at Swiss International School Dubai, recently celebrated the anniversary of her stem cell treatment by donating her hair to the Little Princess Trust, a charity providing wigs to young cancer patients. Diagnosed with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) at just four months old, Aurelia’s recovery involved receiving 50 liters of blood through stem cell treatment. Now healthy, she has grown her hair and cut off 33cms, raising funds in the process.
In 2022, Aurelia and her teacher shaved their heads, supporting the same charity. This act of kindness has inspired her classmates, with three friends also donating their hair after seeing Aurelia’s commitment. The community rallied around their cause, donating AED11,000 to be shared between the Al Jalila Foundation and the Little Princess Trust.
Shona Gastaldi, Head of Primary at SISD, praised Aurelia’s impact on the school community, highlighting her contributions to various charitable causes and her role as an exemplary global citizen. The school aims to nurture pupils into global citizens through its IB curriculum and multi-lingual teaching, qualities Aurelia embodies with her positive spirit and dedication to helping others.