CHOPPING MY HAIR OFF

CHOPPING MY HAIR OFF

THE BUILD UP The first time I had ever heard of someone chopping their hair off for charity was when Jessie J done it live on TV for Comic Relief on Friday 15 March 2013. I've heard many stories since about girls younger than me cutting their hair for charity. It inspired me and would usually bring tears to my eyes that such young people had such big hearts. It was a couple of years ago when the idea of donating my hair to charity first came about. I've always had long hair and a couple of years ago I went to the hairdressers to have a trim. After having my hair cut, I got up from my seat and looked onto the floor with horror... piles of healthy hair I knew was going to go into the bin. Then at that very moment it hit me, I thought to myself that the next time I have my hair cut I would donate my hair to a charity which makes wigs so that it could actually be put to good use and undoubtedly bring a smile to someone's face.

SATURDAY 12TH MARCH 2016 Two weeks prior to this date all I could think about was giving my hair away to charity. Some days I was adamant about giving it away and some days skeptical. But that week, Monday, I asked my Mom if she could book me an appointment at the hairdressers for the coming Saturday. I was ready to donate my hair to charity, to those little children who are going through such a traumatising experience and need hair that little much more than I do.

30cm / 11.8 inches

So the Little Princess Trust work to make wigs for little girls and boys who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy from suffering form cancer or those who are suffering from alopecia. 4,000 free real hair wigs to sick boys and girls across the UK and Ireland thanks to the Little Princess Trust. http://www.littleprincesses.org.uk/about-us/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwqzggdzroo

CANCER a disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body.1 in 2 people born after 1960 in the UK will be diagnosed with some form of cancer during their lifetime. Chemotherapy can cause your hair to fall out. It will usually happen within 2 3 weeks of starting treatment. Some chemotherapy drugs can make other hair from your body fall out, such as facial hair and pubic hair Radiotherapy can cause your hair to fall out, but only in the area being treated. If you are having radiotherapy to your head, you will probably lose hair from your scalp. Hair does not always grow back after radiotherapy. Other cancer treatments, such as hormonal therapy or targeted (biological) therapy, can cause changes to your hair.

ALOPECIA Is the partial or complete absence of hair from areas of the body where it normally grows; baldness Hair loss can be difficult to come to terms with. The hair on your head can be a defining part of your identity. If you start to lose your hair, it can feel as if you're losing part of your identity. This can affect your self-confidence and sometimes lead to depression.

WHAT CAN YOU DO There are many charities that help make wig for lots of people suffering from hair loss no matter what the cause. So you could visit a couple of sites and partake in some fundraising activities and get other people to join in with you. You can also - like I have - chop off your hair for charity. Different charities have different requirements. Chopping your hair off for charity doesn t essentially mean you will have to be bald. The Little Princess Trust require hair that is: Clean, dry hair in good condition (no split ends) from any gender, and of any natural colour Straight, wavy, curly, permed or chemically straightened (in good condition) Containing the odd grey (less than 10%) Dyed, bleached/highlighted (any dyes must be of a natural colour) Layered (shortest layer must be at least 7 /17cm) Plaits/ponytails, cut a long time ago, preserved in good condition

THIS WEEK Cutting my hair was the least I could do but because there is no harm in helping others I would like it if we as a school could help raise money for the Little Princess Trust so they can carry on doing the great work they do. So I kindly ask all of you to donate some money this week, it could be 50p or 20 but just know that any amount of money will be of great help. I will be coming round the classes and forms and hopefully collecting some money. I am aiming to raise 700 this week will your help so please any amount of money will be happily accepted. Thank you. If you do have any questions, feel free to ask me.