By Laura Michell
Bundoora’s Andre Perrone dreams of re-opening his grandfather’s barbershop in Reservoir one day.
The 20-year-old is a step closer to realising that dream after receiving a $2000 scholarship from cancer charity Redkite and Coles.
The Dare to Dream Scholarships are given to 24 young cancer patients from around the country to help them achieve their personal goals.
Mr Perrone will put his scholarship towards the creation of a barbershop in his backyard and building a client base.
He said the scholarship had given him confidence to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather.
“My nonno still owns the premises his barbershop was on and so I hope to re-open it with a modern twist,” he said. “My vision is to sell my own styling products and apparel from small local designers.
“With the help from Redkite and Coles, I’ll be able to buy my first professional barber chair and build a pop-up barbershop in my backyard.”
Mr Perrone, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at 16 years of age, said his cancer battle had been a catalyst for his barbering ambitions.
He has been in remission for the past 18 months and has been working at a Preston barbershop for the past six months.
“It was a difficult time and I was a little bit lost after it,” he said. “It did teach me a few things along the way and I don’t think I would have come across barbering without it.”
