Advertisement

Community rallies for Ashton

The Waikiki and Warnbro communities rallied together on Sunday to raise $1500 for the family of seven-month-old Ashton Figueira, who has spent four months of his short life battling leukaemia.

Doctors gave the tot just a 10 per cent chance of survival just last month but Ashton has since gone into remission.

Waikiki Hair Junkies owner Lynnette Thomas opened her salon on Sunday and laid on a sausage sizzle at Charthouse Shopping Centre.

Generous patrons and community members chipped in to raise $2300.

Mrs Thomas, a family friend of the Figueiras, said she was inspired to host the fundraiser after learning about Ashton’s condition on Facebook.

‘‘I saw a post by Ashton’s uncle and I noticed they were having an online auction so I donated a hair dryer, hair supplies and a $150 gift voucher, but I wanted to do more, ’’ she said.

‘‘My husband and I came up with the idea to open the salon on a Sunday and donate the money from the haircuts.’’

Mrs Thomas said $1500 would be donated to the Figueira family for a well-deserved holiday for Ashton.

The remaining $800 will go towards leukaemia research.

Trish Figueira, Ashton’s mother, said the support for her family was overwhelming.

She said she found out her baby boy had leukaemia on February 26.

‘‘We were really shocked, you just don’t think it will happen to your kid, ’’ she said.

Mrs Figueira said doctors had found a bone marrow donor overseas for Ashton if he were to relapse.

‘‘He has had blood transfusions on a weekly basis, platelet transfusions and four rounds of chemotherapy,’’ she said.

‘‘He has done really well. Doctors told me last month that they had given him less than 10 per cent chance of survival.

‘‘He will have to have weekly blood tests for the next five years and after five years of treatment he should be cured.’’