Inspired by posts she saw online about a charity making wigs for children with cancer, a Bungay teenager decided to get involved.
Ella Thompson-Ives, 14, found out about The Little Princess Trust through Facebook and Instagram, and it struck a chord.
She said: “I heard about a boy who grew his hair really long to donate it to be made into a wig for children with cancer and people were bullying him for having long hair.”
Ella soon decided she wanted to get involved, and arranged to cut off her own long hair and raise sponsorship money for it to be turned into a wig for a child having chemotherapy.
She said: “I really love my long hair but there’s kids without hair.
“I don’t know what I would do if I lost my hair, it would be really upsetting so it must be horrible for children having cancer treatment.
“I thought I might as well donate mine, it will grow back again.”
She had the chop at Redz salon in Bungay on Saturday, and has raised almost £700 to contribute to the cost of the wigmaking - double her original target. She will also be donating 11 inches of her hair.
The Bungay High School pupil said: “It felt really weird afterwards and it still feels a bit weird now but I really like it.
“I keep doing things and forgetting, like when I put a scarf on I usually have to flick my hair but now it’s not there anymore.
“Lots of my friends have said well done and said they like my new hair cut.”
To sponsor Ella and donate to The Little Princess Trust, visit www.justgiving.com/Ella-TITheBigChop
Are you raising money for charity? Email polly.grice@archant.co.uk
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