An eight-year-old girl from Ickenham is preparing to cut off her long locks so they can be used to make wigs for sick boys and girls.
Lily Walsh has been growing her hair, which comes down to the middle of her back, for two years. And now pupil from Breakspear School in Ickenham, has decided to chop it off for the Little Princess Trust – a charity which provides real-hair wigs to boys and girls who have lost their own hair through cancer.
She said: “I have wanted to raise money for charity for a while now and when I heard about The Little princess trust I asked my mum and dad if I could donate my hair. I have been growing it for two years now and I love it. But I've decided to cut it into a short bob and share it with someone who needs it more than me because all girls deserve to feel pretty!
“Although I am sending the charity my hair, it actually costs the charity £350 to make one wig for a child, that’s why I'm hoping to raise money too."
Mum Keri Walsh, who also has two boys aged six and one, said she struggled to convey how proud she was of her daughter.
She said: “She’s generally a kind kid and is constantly looking for ways to help people. The thought of children not having their own hair because they were sick completely blew her away. When she asked if she could cut her hair for the charity I was brimming with pride and my husband Brendan was chuffed to bits with her."
The haircut will take place on February12, one day before school breaks for half-term, so that Lily can show off her new look to friends.
Breakspear School, in Bushey Road, is also throwing its support behind Lily, putting up posters in its halls and corridors and holding a special assembly to drum up publicity.
Last year a four-year-old donated her hair to the charity , as did a nine-year-old Nell Vaul , also from Ickenham. So far Lily has collected £150. Anyone wanting to donate can visit her Just Giving page here - https://www.justgiving.com/Lily-Walsh .
