INSTEAD of receiving gifts on his birthday, Damon Koles preferred the idea of giving.
The nine-year-old Mount Tomah resident cut his hair off on the eve of his birthday and donated it to the charity Camp Quality to make a wig for a child undergoing cancer treatment.
Staff at Esthetica in Richmond cut his hair on Thursday of last week, which he has been growing for a year and a half for the cause.
His parents Gabrielle and Daniel Koles said they were extremely supportive of him and encourage all acts of selflessness.
They said he shows huge amounts of empathy and has a really big heart.
Mrs Koles said Damon was on the autism spectrum but always put others before himself.
‘‘He came up with the idea on his own and put his mind into getting it done,’’ Mrs Koles said.
‘‘He really deserves the praise he gets and is so happy that he can make someone else happy on his birthday. His kind acts will only get bigger in time. He makes us so proud.’’
So far, Damon has raised $1300 and hopes to reach $1500 in support of children with cancer.
He has been fundraising for Camp Quality in support of car 90 ‘The Princess’ in this year’s EsCARpade Rally — one of the biggest annual national fundraisers.
In efforts to support Damon, his school Bilpin Public School held a mufti day fundraiser on Friday, October 9 where students dressed as princes, princesses or superheroes to support the rally.
