Eight-year-old Kitty Sanderson’s hair, which reached all the way down her back, was her pride and joy.

But the kind-hearted Barnby and North Cove Primary School pupil decided to have 18 centimetres of her curly locks cut off to make a wig for a child undergoing cancer treatment.

The idea stemmed from a conversation Kitty had with her mother Charlotte, who knew someone who donated her hair to the Little Princess Trust.

“I first wanted to have my hair cut because I thought it would be easier to have it short,” said Kitty. “But mummy told me about the charity so I decided to have it done for them.”

Kitty has received almost £200 in sponsorship for her haircut, which will be going to Marie Curie Cancer Care in honour of some of her friends and family members who have had cancer.

Her hair has been donated to the Little Princess Trust, which gives free wigs to boys and girls in the UK and Ireland who have lost hair while having treatment for cancer.

“I would feel horrid and sad if I didn’t have any hair,” said Kitty. “But I would be very happy with a wig and very thankful.”

Kitty had her hair cut at Diva salon in Norwich last Saturday, and her parents said they were thrilled she made the donation.

Mrs Sanderson, who works at Lowestoft Sixth Form College, said: “I’m very, very proud. I hadn’t heard of the Little Princess Trust before one of my students had a haircut and donated it to them. We were talking about it with Kitty and she said that’s what she wanted to do and we talked about why it’s important.

“If you’re not in a position to be able to afford a wig it’s very difficult to get one.”

Kitty’s dad Nick added: “I was a bit reluctant at first because Kitty had such long hair but when she explained she wanted to do if for the Little Princess Trust I thought it made perfect sense.”

Kitty said her hair felt much lighter after the cut, and she was looking forward to showing off her new haircut to all her friends at school.

To sponsor Kitty, visit www.justgiving.com/Charlotte-Sanderson2/

Are you raising money for a special cause? Email polly.grice@archant.co.uk