A teenager who could sit on her long tresses has had her hair cut short to donate it to the Little Princess Trust, which creates wigs for ill children who have lost their hair – and the youngster has raised over £890 for the charity.
Ellie Richardson, 17 and from Great Dunmow, is a former pupil at Helena Romanes School and is now studying animal care at Writtle College, hoping to become a veterinary nurse.
She said: “I just think losing your hair must really knock your self-confidence and I thought I could share some of my hair. I can always grow mine back again.”
Eighteen inches of Ellie’s hair was cut at hair salon Definitions in Braintree by stylist Tina, who donated her fee to the charity. There was also a donation of £300 from the specials menu at The Star Inn, Dunmow, where Ellie works at weekends.
Ellie who has a younger brother and sister, also works at Moloney’s veterinary practice in Dunmow.
Mum Michelle said: “We have been so lucky that there are a lot of very generous people who have wanted to help this cause. Ellie started off hoping to raise £250 but now would really love to reach £1,000.
“I am so proud of Ellie doing this as it means so much to her. She wants a young person to feel happy and confident with their looks.
“Having her hair cut off has been quite a huge sacrifice for her as she loved her long hair but like she says she is lucky that hers can grow back.”
You can help Ellie Richardson raise money for the Little Princess Trust by donating directly to their fundraising page: www.justgiving.com/Ellie-Richardson. JustGiving sends your donation straight to Little Princess Trust and automatically reclaims gift aid if you are a UK taxpayer.
The Little Princess Trust is a children’s cancer charity that supplies real hair wigs to children with cancer who have lost their hair. The service is free of charge.
The trust works with specialist suppliers and experienced hairdressers who offer wigs tailored to the individual child’s needs to give the most realistic look and feel, as close as possible to their original hair.
The trust also helps children with other conditions causing hair loss, including alopecia.
The trust can supply these children with a single wig while their family decide on their long-term plans for dealing with this sort of condition.
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