Rachel Donnellan
Rachel's Hair!
Fundraising for Little Havens Children's Hospice
Story
Hello! I'm Rachel and I'm 10 years old, nearly 11. I want to raise money for Little Havens Children's Hospice in Thundersley, in Essex, by cutting my 30" long hair to around 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 my hair to the Little Princess Trust for it to be made into a wig for children 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 and I'd like to raise some money for this charity too. Please read my other Just Giving page, www.justgiving.com/princessrachelid
I chose to help Little Havens, because, I can't imagine being unwell and being away from home but I've read lots of times in the paper that it's like another home for the children, and they are loved there. I hope that any money that I raise will help the children and the nurses in the hospice and the mum's and dad's too. It it my local charity and it neeeeeeeeeds help. I think it only gets money from donations. It looks after children from outside this area, but of course helps children from around here - it could be helping someone you know.
I have asked my school, Grove Wood Primary in Rayleigh, if they would allow me to take a bucket into school and I have asked my year group if they would donate any spare change they have to see me with short hair and so the first money I raise will be from the Year 6 pupils and teaching staff from Grove Wood, and the best lollypop man in the world, Ron!
I am having my hair cut on Wednesday, 15th July. My friends in school know it's this week but not when. It will be a surprise when I go into school on Thursday! I haven't yet told anyone about my Just Giving page but should anyone find this by accident you will know first!
I am looking forward to having a new hair style for my 11th birthday party on 21st July. I haven't decided exactly how I will have my hair on that day, I think I will be able to do lots of styles with it once it is shorter.
I am also looking forward to having shorter hair for when I go to senior 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!
For having my hair cut, my mum has given me a beautiful hand mirror with ballerinas on and a comb to match, which I am hoping I will be able to use on my hair instead of yanking it with a hairbrush!
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 my hair to the Little Princess Trust for it to be made into a wig for children 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 and I'd like to raise some money for this charity too. Please read my other Just Giving page, www.justgiving.com/princessrachelid
I chose to help Little Havens, because, I can't imagine being unwell and being away from home but I've read lots of times in the paper that it's like another home for the children, and they are loved there. I hope that any money that I raise will help the children and the nurses in the hospice and the mum's and dad's too. It it my local charity and it neeeeeeeeeds help. I think it only gets money from donations. It looks after children from outside this area, but of course helps children from around here - it could be helping someone you know.
I have asked my school, Grove Wood Primary in Rayleigh, if they would allow me to take a bucket into school and I have asked my year group if they would donate any spare change they have to see me with short hair and so the first money I raise will be from the Year 6 pupils and teaching staff from Grove Wood, and the best lollypop man in the world, Ron!
I am having my hair cut on Wednesday, 15th July. My friends in school know it's this week but not when. It will be a surprise when I go into school on Thursday! I haven't yet told anyone about my Just Giving page but should anyone find this by accident you will know first!
I am looking forward to having a new hair style for my 11th birthday party on 21st July. I haven't decided exactly how I will have my hair on that day, I think I will be able to do lots of styles with it once it is shorter.
I am also looking forward to having shorter hair for when I go to senior 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!
For having my hair cut, my mum has given me a beautiful hand mirror with ballerinas on and a comb to match, which I am hoping I will be able to use on my hair instead of yanking it with a hairbrush!
WEDNESDAY, 15TH JULY
Thank you Alice - I reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally love my hair! I went straight from school to Sodeau's and I met Alice. She was really nice and pretty. She spent a lot of time doing my hair. A man from the Rayleigh and Eastwood Times was there to take my photo. When I got home I tried loads to different styles on my hair - it was great! Not sure though if I can get it into a bun for ballet! Hope my teacher doesn't mind!!
Thank you Jackie, and thank you to some of the other hairdressers in Rayleigh, an estate agents, a florist and the lady in Rayleigh Lanes who wanted to donate. I will add it to the site soon.
THURSDAY, 16TH
Everyone at school said they liked my hair - loved it actually! So do I! I feel so different. I thought I felt special with long hair but it's even more special now! I washed it tonight with toffee shampoo and I dried it with a flannel, instead of two towels! I blow-dried it myself. I have never done any of that before.
Thanks Jackie, and thanks to some hairdressers in Leigh who donated. I will add it to the other money.
My 'old' hair is in a special box. The Southend Yellow Advertiser are coming to my house tomorrow to take a picture of it and then I can send it to the Princess Trust.
FRIDAY, 17TH
It was the last day for me at junior school and I took my money home. It was heavy! I tipped it out onto the table and it took forever to count. There were loads of coins and it made my hands a bit smelly. Some people who haven't given yet, will at my birthday party on Tuesday but I have already met my target of £50, so that's good.
Leanne from Little Havens came to my house and then Paul from the Yellow Advertiser came and took my photo. They were nice people. Hopefully when people see it in the paper they will visit my Just Giving pages.
I've been to my school disco tonight and I feel so sad now because some of my friends are going to a different school and I will miss my teachers, especially my year 6 teachers. I don't think any school could have teachers as good as the ones I've had. I'm going to bed now. Goodnight x
TUESDAY, 21ST
Happy Birthday to MEEEEEEEEEE!
THURSDAY, 23RD
Someone told me that my picture is on the front of the Rayleigh and Eastwood Times (aagh!) and also in the Castle Point and Rochford Yellow Advertiser (I've seen it online). If you are from my Year 6 and you would like a copy of the Lion King and our Leavers Assembly, all you have to do in make an online donation, and then give me a call (school telephone tree) and you can have one.
SATURDAY, 25TH
I was in the Southend Echo as last night. I'd rather not look at pictures of myself!
I have decided to put up the money I collected from school today. Thank you to anyone who put into the collection. I collected £78.96 (that's pounds, not lbs of hair as the Yellow Advertiser said!) I'm really pleased with that. Thank you. I will pass on the money to Leanne from Little Havens next week. The money my friend's mum Jackie collected from Rayleigh and Leigh was £54. I'd like to split this into both of my charities, so £27 each. Thank you also if you have read about this in the paper and have given.
THANK YOU, LOVE FROM RACHEL X
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