Sacrificing their hair for cancer patients has scored two Dapto sisters and their family a spot in this year’s Camp Quality Illawarra Convoy.
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Kaitlyn and Holly Draper raised $4500 for the children’s cancer charity by shedding their 40-centimetre ponytails earlier this year.
The ponytails were chopped during a ceremony at Lakelands Public School in September and given to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths campaign, a program that makes real-hair wigs for women fighting cancer.
The heart-warming gesture was 10-year-old Kaitlyn’s idea and prompted their father Steven to enter a competition for a spot on the IMB Convoy Bus at Sunday’s event.
Entrants were asked to describe in 25 words or less why they wanted a seat, with eight winners each allowed to bring three guests.
‘‘We always sit and watch it on the sideline, but it’ll be good to experience Convoy from the inside as a reward [for the girls’ effort],’’ Mr Draper said.
‘‘It’s just a good charity ... it’s for the kids.’’
Mr Draper works as a courier for Toll, a job that meant he shared the road with truck drivers on a daily basis.
‘‘It’s to show support for those guys,’’ he said.
‘‘The kids are excited to be a part of it.’’
The IMB bus, provided by Wollongong-based Dion’s bus service, will join thousands of vehicles convoying from Appin to the Croome Road Sporting Complex at Albion Park Rail.
A Dion’s employee has volunteered his time to be behind the wheel.
IMB chief executive Robert Ryan said the company was pleased to be able to ‘‘bring the Convoy experience that much closer for some’’.
The convoy, which raises money for Camp Quality Illawarra, is in its 10th year.
Last year’s event, which involved 782 trucks and 900 motorbikes, raised more than $1.1 million.