Fife town rallies behind Millie’s 'Big Chop' as charity appeal nears target
A Glenrothes girl who has spent more than a year growing her hair is about to get the ‘Big Chop’ for charity, and the community rallying behind her raised more than £500 in a single day for the cause.
Millie, 10, has been growing her hair so it can be donated to The Little Princess Trust, a charity that makes real-hair wigs for children who have lost their own due to cancer treatment or other conditions.
Of knowing her hair will help children who need it most, Millie, who is in primary 7, said: “It feels good because you’re helping someone that doesn’t have it.”
On her inspiration, she added: “My mum told me about it and I thought it was a really good idea. So, I wanted to do it for the Little Princess Trust.”
The UK-based charity has provided more than 14,000 real-hair wigs to children and young people up to the age of 24 across the UK and Ireland. It also uses money raised by supporters to fund research into kinder, more effective treatments for childhood cancers.
Organiser and mum, Anne, said on the GoFundMe page that Millie is “ready to take the big step” of having her hair cut off and donated. Millie hopes it will “help another child feel a little more confident and bring a smile to their face”.
Millie’s hair will provide about 13 inches for the charity when it is cut in the next couple of weeks. Asked about the worst parts of growing it, she said: “Washing my hair, using a hair towel, it takes ages to dry and my hair is too big for it now, and also brushing it in the morning.”
The Trust provides real-hair wigs, free of charge, to children and young people, every donation, no matter how big or small, helps the cause, with every penny raised going to The Little Princess Trust, which aims to give children the confidence to be themselves.
Of discovering that the local community had joined in to support Millie’s donation, Anne said: “We were sitting during the October holidays last week and I thought, ‘Now’s the time to set up the GoFundMe page’, but I didn’t expect to raise what we got in the first day. I didn’t even expect that amount throughout the whole fundraiser. So, yeah, it was a big shock, and it’s just kind of snowballed over the last three days.”
The fundraiser now stands at £1045, which is £155 short of the £1200 target, and will stay open until after the big haircut.
Millie and Anne offered advice to anyone considering growing and donating their hair to charity, saying: “It’s a good thing to do because you’re helping someone, but use lots of conditioners and shampoo help keep it healthy.”
Anne added: “I just want to say thank you to everybody who's already donated, and everyone who’s helped spread awareness for the charity.”
To support Millie and donate to the community fundraiser, visit the GoFundMe page here.