Hair Donation and Sponsored Head Shave for Youth Cancer

I've had long hair for 20 years. I started growing it when I was 16, and over that time it's become a big part of my identity and self-image. I've always been very proud of it.

In early September, I'm going to cut it all off.

First, I'm donating ~15" of hair to the Little Princess Trust, so that it can be used to make a real-hair wig for a young person who has lost their own hair through cancer treatment or another medical condition.

Then I'm going to shave whatever remains completely off.


I'm doing this because cancer has become painfully close to home for my family over the last year.

My uncle Richie was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and just 12 weeks later his 21-year-old daughter, my cousin Claire, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia.

Claire has spent much of the time since in hospital. She's had to shave off her own lovely long hair, put her university course on hold, and deal with her life being turned upside down almost overnight. At the same time, her family are trying to cope with this additional emotional strain when ideally they would be able to focus on enjoying their time with their father and husband.


The three charities I'm supporting through this fundraiser (Little Princess Trust, Teenage Cancer Trust, and Young Lives vs Cancer) have all played a part in supporting Claire and her family, alongside many other people and organisations involved in her care.

That support has included things as tangible as providing her with a free real-hair wig and helping fund the hospital wards she's been treated on, as well as the wider practical, emotional and financial support that young people and their families need when cancer suddenly takes over their lives.

I'd like to help these organisations continue doing that for other young people and families who find themselves in similarly frightening and uncertain circumstances.


So I'm setting myself a target of £10,000.


I'm putting £1,500 in myself to get us started, and I'm hoping that YOU can help take us the rest of the way.

I'm asking for money because that's the purpose of this fundraiser - but I'm also doing this because I've been incredibly fortunate to have had a choice about my hair for the last 20 years.

For someone going through cancer treatment, losing their hair isn't a choice at all.

So the first part of this is about giving something useful to someone else: turning the hair I've spent two decades growing into a wig for a young person who needs it.

The second part, shaving the rest off, is simply my way of showing some solidarity with Claire, and with all the other young people who have their lives suddenly changed by cancer through no choice of their own.


Sadly, stories like Claire's are much more common than any of us would like to think. If you're able to donate, however much you can spare will be hugely appreciated. If you're a UK taxpayer and eligible to do so, please also remember to tick the Gift Aid option when donating - it allows the charities to claim an additional 25% at no extra cost to you. 

The money raised will be shared between the three charities:
20% - Little Princess Trust
40% - Teenage Cancer Trust
40% - Young Lives vs Cancer

If you're not in a position to donate financially, that's completely okay. Sharing this fundraiser with someone else may help just as much. And if you want to do something beyond this campaign, there are countless other ways to help these organisations and the people they support - from volunteering your time, to simply being there for someone who is having a difficult time, or joining a bone marrow donor register.
- NHSBT for blood donors: https://www.blood.co.uk/stem-cell-donor-registry/
- Anthony Nolan via a simple cheek swab: https://www.anthonynolan.org/help-save-a-life/join-stem-cell-register
- DKMS via a simple cheek swab: https://www.dkms.org.uk/register-as-a-donor

I'll post updates as the campaign progresses, and I'll share the date and details of the haircut and head shave once they're confirmed.

Thank you for reading, for donating if you're able to, and especially for helping me see just how far we can take this.