Schoolboy, 15, Isolated For Dying His Hair In Tribute To Stricken Friend

'This is not a fashion statement'.
Daniel Bradbury, left, was placed in isolation for dying his hair to support his friend Kallum Aish, right
Daniel Bradbury, left, was placed in isolation for dying his hair to support his friend Kallum Aish, right
NTI

A teenager was placed in isolation after he turned up for school with pink hair to support of a friend who is fighting a rare life-threatening blood disease.

Kind-hearted Daniel Bradbury, 15, was punished when he turned up for lessons on Friday with his quiff dyed.

The Year Ten pupil is one of more than 30 people who have shaved their head or dyed their hair pink in support of seriously ill Kallum Aish.

Daniel's father is furious at the decision to suspend his son, pictured
Daniel's father is furious at the decision to suspend his son, pictured
SWNS.com

The 13-year-old is fighting aplastic anaemia, a rare disease which prevents the body producing bone marrow, and is facing the next six weeks in hospital.

All of Kallum's six brothers, including KJ, eight, and five-year-old Kody, have shaved their head in a show of solidarity while mum Jamie Aish and gran Lynn McNally have gone pink.

But family friend Daniel was placed in isolation at Fairfax School in Sutton Coldfield, West Mids., for making the same thoughtful gesture.

His furious dad Dennis Bradbury, 60, who lives in Walmley, Sutton Coldfield, said: "I'm absolutely disgusted. This is not a fashion statement, it's been done to raise awareness."

Daniel's father Dennis, right, said: 'I'm livid'
Daniel's father Dennis, right, said: 'I'm livid'
SWNS.com

He continued: "The school was informed three days before but no one came back to us. I'm livid. We're talking about a few days, what difference would that make?

"Daniel hasn't had a day off school in five years. Dyeing his hair isn't going to harm his work, keeping him in isolation will."

All of painter and decorator Dennis' nine children have had their hair shaved or coloured and his wife Michelle, 36, also sports a pink barnet.

Mum-of-five Michelle added: "Loads of friends and family have dyed their hair but Daniel is the only one who goes to Fairfax.

"They put him in isolation which meant he had to sit in the same room with one teacher for the whole day to do his work and he had to stay in there during break times.

"The school phoned and said he was in isolation because of his hair so we explained why he had done it but it didn't do any good."

Kallum Aish pictured in hospital besides his friends, including Daniel Bradbury, far left
Kallum Aish pictured in hospital besides his friends, including Daniel Bradbury, far left
SWNS.com

She continued: "We tried to tell the school he was going to do it last week but they just kept saying they would phone back. He wanted to dye his hair pink as soon as possible because Kallum is having a bone marrow transplant on Monday.

"The little lad is popular and has 30 visitors a day at hospital and Daniel has also been to see him. Everyone is doing their hair to show their support for him so it is a shame the school couldn't see sense."

Kallum's mum Jamie Aish, 36, has also backed Daniel and said her son's cousin Kasey Harper, 15, has been allowed to go pink by Plantsbrook School in Sutton Coldfield.

Kallum's mum Jamie comforts her son in hospital
Kallum's mum Jamie comforts her son in hospital
SWNS.com

She added: "I thought they went to school to use their brains not their hair.

"It seems schools are quite prepared to drop their dress codes for St Patrick's Day or Children in Need but not for this."

Kallum, who lives in Kingstanding, Birmingham, was rushed to Birmingham Children's Hospital last Wednesday where he will stay for six weeks.

His 11-year-old brother Christian is bravely donating his own bone marrow on Monday in a bid to cure the youngster.

Kallum was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia, a condition which only affects 150 people each year in Britain, in January.

The rare disease is not a type of cancer but is treated with some of the same therapies including chemotherapy drugs and bone marrow transplantation.

Kallum Aish pictured in hospital with his friends
Kallum Aish pictured in hospital with his friends
SWNS.com

Jamie added: "He started to go discoloured but I thought it was down to the winter.

"Then he started to get blood blisters under his skin. For me that was the signal something was wrong.

"His brothers have been so supportive. Each one had the test to see if they were a (bone marrow) match.

"Kallum's doing okay but he's very tired."

Fairfax School says "charity is close to its heart"
Fairfax School says "charity is close to its heart"
SWNS.com

Fairfax School claimed they were only given one day's notice of Daniel's hair colour which breaches behavioural policy, and said his parents were warned of the consequences.

Acting Head of Academy Chris Stevens said the school had a history of supporting charitable causes but they had to be pre-planned and orchestrated.

He added: "This was a last minute request that had not been organised.

"We support charity, it is something close to our heart."

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