Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

When I was a child I was petrified of having my hair cut. I even took to sleeping with my duvet round my head so no one could do it in the night (yes, a child's imagination can be strange, mine certainly was!). I think there are loads of little girls out there who love their long hair and what it can mean to them personally (dressing up as fairies & princess and having it brushed as well as using pretty hair accessories). And lets not forget teenagers and how important hair is to their image.

Hell, having your hair 'done' makes even a grown woman feel good. 

So, now imagine not only being told that you are going to be very ill for a while, but that you are going to loose your pride and joy, your hair - how do you think a child would feel? They are likely to have no concept of the idea that it is 'a means to an end', a consequence of the drugs that will make them better and that it will all grow back.

One way to help little girls, and especially teenagers, to feel more themselves (when their bodies probably don't feel much like their own) is to help them look like their old self. 

The Little Princess Trust (LPT) organises personalised wigs for these girls to help them get through difficult times and face the world with their heads high. Sadly NHS wigs use synthetic hair, which can't be styled. LPT use real hair, so girls' wigs look real and can be curled, straightened etc.  It's amazing how a good hairstyle can lift the mood of the entire family in these cases (just take a look at the videos on the LPT website)

The time has come for me to stop the needless worry and be brave and have my hair cut - I am going to donate my ponytail to the LPT to make wigs. Sadly it would take 10 of my ponytails to make one wig and even then it will still cost the charity £300 to make.

So, I am asking you lovely bunch of friends and family to give generously to this worthwhile cause - I am very lucky to have two beautiful and healthy little girls and I count my lucky stars every day for that. So, with this in mind, I have set my fundraising target at £600 the same as two wigs.

I would love to raise more, so please help. At present I can just about give 9.5 inches of hair and be left with a jaw-length bob, but alas they need 10-12inches. So, I will be having my hair cut in August when I hope to have enough good quality hair for them. It also gives you all loads of time to be extra extra generous.

Plus, as an incentive - the more you give, the more I will be brave and the shorter I will go!!!!

UPDATE - 28/7/11 - The date and place is set - 10am on Friday the 5th August at The Company Hairdressers, Middle Street, Horsham. Come along, watch and join in the fun if you want - if you donate LOADS, I might even let you cut the ponytail!!!

Thank you very much in advance

Alex

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.

So please dig deep and donate now.