Friends have rallied around 15-year-old Noah Cariolato, shaving their heads in support of the talented Glenbrook swimmer who was recently diagnosed with cancer.
Sixteen of Noah’s friends from St Columba’s High School lost their locks late last month at Sweeney Todds in Winmalee, with the $4444 raised going to Blue Mountains Cancer Help which supports locals with cancer.
“We wanted to show that we still have his back,” said friend Jackson Ng-Saad who also swims with Noah. “To show our support. To say hang in there and be strong.”
St Columba’s teacher Greg Malone was blown away by the students’ thoughtfulness.
“It challenges that stereotype that kids these days only think about themselves.”
Noah’s dad Adolfo Cariolato said his son appreciated his friends’ efforts.
“Noah was so proud of his mates doing what they did because some of them are very fussy about their hair,” Mr Cariolato said.
Friends described Noah as kind, humble and caring.
He competed at the National Age Championships three years in a row and his favoured strokes are freestyle and breaststroke.
Springwood Swimming Club treasurer Kellie Power said Noah was “a champion of our club.”
“We have no doubt he will return to his swimming as soon as he possibly can and we hope that nothing stands in his way of getting back to the level he was at such a short time ago,” she said.
“Upon hearing about Noah’s diagnosis the club immediately took up the initiative of selling bandannas for CanTeen’s National Bandanna day in October and have to date raised nearly $1400 for CanTeen to show our immediate support.”
In September Noah reported muscle pain in his side. He attended a swimming carnival and was off pace. X-rays at Westmead Children’s Hospital revealed he was “running on one and a quarter lungs” said Mr Cariolato, due to a 12cm long tumour in one of his lymph nodes impacting on his lung.
Diagnosed with T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Stage 3 Lymphoma, Noah has been having chemotherapy and after six weeks the tumour had halved in size.
Mr Cariolato said Noah’s prognosis was “very good” and the cancer hadn’t spread. He’s facing two years of treatment and hopes to return to school next year.
With a healthy lifestyle and no history of cancer in the family, Mr Cariolato said the diagnosis had come as a surprise. “It’s very random, it gets healthy people,” he said.
“We take it day by day.”
Springwood Swimming Club will hold a fundraising swimathon for Noah on January 15, open to all. Details: info@springwoodswimmingclub.com.au.
