Hi!   I'm Rachel and I'm 10 years old, nearly 11.  I want to raise money for the Little Princess Trust  by cutting my 30" long hair to shoulder length.  Richard Sodeau from Sodeaus hair salon in Websters Way in Rayleigh has offered to cut my hair free of charge; Alice is going to cut it for me.   I shall then donate it to The Little Princess Trust, for it to be made into a wig for little girls who have lost their hair from either having alopecia or through having drugs to try to make them better when they have cancer or leukaemia.  My mum heard about this charity a couple of years ago on the BBC Essex Radio helpline and I thought it was a brilliant idea and knew that when I got round to having my hair cut I would donate it to be made into a wig for another little girl to try to make her feel like a princess again.  I have always had long hair, I've only ever had it trimmed before and I've always felt special.  I can't imagine not having any hair at all.  This charity specially makes wigs for little girls just like their own hair would have been.  Having nice hair should make anyone feel a little bit better!

I am having my hair cut on Wednesday, 15th July.  I am not going to tell my school friends exactly when, and I will surprise them when I go into school on Thursday!  Of course, they might read it here first!!

I am looking forward to having 'new hair' for my 11th birthday party on 21st July.  I hope it doesn't rain to mess my new hair style!

My mum has given me a lovely hand mirror and comb set with ballerinas on.  I hope I can use the comb on my hair instead of pulling at it with a 'tangle-free' hair brush!

I am also looking forward to having shorter hair for when I go to secondary school in September, FitzWimarc in Rayleigh, and will be very happy that no one will be able to play with my hair and pull my plaits!  It will be a lot easier to brush in the mornings as I will have to leave for school a bit earlier than I do now! 

I am also raising money for my local children's charity, Little Havens Children's Hospice - you can see more on my other Just Giving page, .www.justgiving.com/rachelid

WEDNESDAY, 15th JULY

It's all over!  I love my hair - thank you Alice!  It feels so nice now and I love it.  I went straight from school and it was one of the best days ever!   A man from The Rayleigh and Eastwood Times was there to take my photo.  My mum videod the whole thing too!

Thank you to Jackie for her visits to some other hairdressers in Rayleigh and also the lady in Rayleigh Lanes, the florist and the estate agent who donated.  I will add the money soon to this site.

THURSDAY, 16th JULY

Everyone in school said they loved my hair too!  I feel really nice with it.  I washed it tonight.  My mum bought me some special shampoo and conditioner - I think it had toffee in!  I washed my hair myself.  Normally, I would have two towels to wrap my hair in but I put a flannel on my head tonight!  I combed it and blow-dried it all by myself.  I've never done any of that before. 

Thanks again to Jackie who visited some hairdressers in Leigh today who also wanted to donate!

I have put my 'old' hair in a special box  and am waiting for the Southend Yellow Advertiser to come to my house tomorrow to take my photo with me holding my hair.  I will be able to send it off next week to the Little Princess Trust.

FRIDAY, 17TH

Paul from the Southend Yellow Advertiser came for tea and cake and then he took my photo.  He was very nice.  The picture will probably be in next week's paper and hopefully people will read it and visit my Just Giving pages.

It's quite late.  Well, very late!  I have been to my end of junior school disco and it was sad at the end and I cried all the way home.  I will miss some of my friends who are going to a different school and the teachers at Grove were just the best anywhere, especially the year 6 teachers.  I'm sad.  I still love my hair though!

TUES. 21ST

My birthday.  I had a very nice day with a party in the evening with my friends.  Thanks for the cards and pressies!

SATURDAY, 25TH

I have been in all the local papers this week, The Rayleigh and Eastwood Times, Rochford and Castle Point Yellow Advertiser and the Southend Echo.  They all tell a the story a bit differently so that's good.  Thank you to those who have donated through reading those papers.

My mum's friend Jackie collected some money last week from Rayleigh and Leigh and it came to £54, and I have decided that I'm going to split the money in half to each of my charities, so £27 each.  Not sure yet how to pass the money on the Little Princess Trust!

 

THANK YOU.  LOVE FROM RACHEL x

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.