Hair-oic effort: local pupil grows hair for two years for charity

Birley Spa Primary Academy is celebrating a pupil who decided to raise £835 for The Little Princess Trust.

Year 5 pupil William was inspired by the charity’s work and spent two years growing his hair to donate to the charity, which provides real-hair wigs to children and young people who have lost their hair due to illness or medical treatment.

To meet the charity’s donation requirements, William patiently grew his hair to more than 12 inches before having it cut and donated.

Alongside donating his hair, he secured sponsorship from family, friends and supporters to help fund the charity’s work. The Little Princess Trust estimates that each wig costs around £700 to produce.

In total, William donated 12 inches of hair and raised £835, enough to cover the cost of a wig and support the charity’s work helping children and young people across the UK.

Staff at Birley Spa Primary Academy said William’s fundraising had been a proud moment for the whole school community, with pupils, staff and families supporting his efforts throughout the two-year challenge.

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William said:

“I wanted to donate my hair to help children who have lost theirs and I’m really happy that I could raise over £800 for The Little Princess Trust. Growing my hair took resilience and patience but it was worth it to help someone else.

“I worked hard to reach my goal and was supported by my family, friends and school which showed me the importance of teamwork. I hope my donation inspires others to be kind, think creatively about how they can help and aspire to make a positive difference.”

Cathy Gibson, Acting Headteacher at Birley Spa Primary Academy, said:

“We are incredibly proud of William and the determination he has shown over the last two years. His commitment to helping others demonstrates the values we encourage every day at Birley Spa Primary Academy.

“To dedicate so much time to a cause that will make a real difference to children facing difficult circumstances is a remarkable achievement.”