(skipping to the end...Growing process complete,1.5 years. Head shaved. Now about 6 months to get my hair back to my normal length. Only 6 months to go till I reach my full target.)

Firstly, thanks for taking the time to visit this fundraising page. Donating 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. You can donate from anywhere in the world.

Even a donation as small as £1 will help keep me going 🙏🏽🙏🏽.
Donation can also be made anonymously.

And now...what is this all about?

**My cause: Feeling uncomfortable with my appearance (and more) for around 2 years in total while growing my hair so I can donate it for wig creation for someone in need.** 

Short version of this journey and request for support

• Back in 2018 Chris (my husband) needed a kidney transplant. I donated my kidney. Through the hospital we found BAKPA, who supported us through a part of the process. 

• In 2020 I started helping BAKPA with their website and am now quite involved with the committee. The committee members are mostly kidney donors, recipients or carers. 

• And now, it's time to donate something else...my hair. In early 2022 I decided to grow my hair to donate it for wig creation for someone in need and I picked the Little Princess Trust to donate to.

• After a few months of growth I realised how much more I had to grow it before donation.

• I decided to start this page to do a double whammy charity support by asking you to egg me on to keep growing while raising money for charity.

• Need more incentive to donate but don't want to read the long version for the story below? Skip to "So in total, I will be forsaking"
  

The long version …

I last cut my hair on Dec 21 2021. For one and another reason, I did not manage to cut when it was next due. At some point, I looked at it and realised it was getting quite long (for me) and I thought, perhaps I should keep growing it long enough to donate it for a human hair wig. 

I did a bit of research and found I could donate it from 14 - 17 cms and chose Little Princess Trust (more about them below) to donate it to.

The other day I double checked my hair length, took a pic only then remembered that my hair is layered. I sent them a pic, saying I have layers, will this be ok?. They replied with “We accept layered hair, providing the shortest layer is 17cm. In all hair donations there will be a very small quantity of short strands, which is natural, and perfectly acceptable. We are ideally asking for donations of 30cm and longer, would you be able to continue to grow your hair to the required length?”

This is where you come in…I need your support to keep going!

It’s already been incredibly annoying to have my hair growing for 6 months longer than when I would have preferred having it cut again. And my self esteem is taking a hit! And it’s going to continue to take a hit until at least Nov 2023.

So I need you to egg me on so I can help the Little Princess trust get a head of hair at their ideal length and at the same time do a double whammy charity support and raise money for worthy cause; BAKPA (more about them below).

As you can see from the main pic on this page, while the longest layer is probably around 25cm the shortest layer/strand looks like it’s around 11cm. This means I have AT LEAST another 6 months to go if not more!!

I then need to have it professionally permanently dyed to hide the grey (I normally do home semi permanent colour) and get it cut into many pigtails, ready for postage.

Cutting the pigtails as close to my scalp as possible to maximise length means I will then need to shave my head on a number 2.

Then I will have to wait at least 8 months for my hair to get back to my preferred length.

So in total, I will be forsaking looking and feeling my best for around 2 years!  And quite frankly, I find having long hair very annoying!... 

• Takes longer to wash + uses more shampoo/conditioner + more shower time + more water. 
• I exercise 5 days a week so I have to wash my hair on those day  which means more of everything above. 
• I can't wear it down anymore as it does not look good. 
• If going out, I'll need to try to something nice with it, rather then just tie it back in a boring ponytail.
  
• I can't just wash and go and let the curls do their thing. 
• I have to spend time drying it (the longer it is the longer it takes to dry)
• I can't stand it hanging on my neck and all the thickness of it behind my ears or hanging in my face.
• I have to tie it back while I sleep and exercise; 2 things I normally never have to think about.
• And then there's the having it off and grow it again for 8 months back to ideal length.
  
• Yes, it's all very 'first world problem' but I need intensive to carry on so someone out there can look and feel good with a fab head of hair. 

View the gallery to see photos of increasing hair growth, decreasing confidence + increasing annoyance. 

Please support me to feel uncomfortable with my appearance for a looooooong time and together we can support two worthy charities. 

Thank you soooooooo much!

The charities

Little Princess Trust
Provide real hair wigs, free of charge, to children and young people up to the age of 24 who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment or other hair loss conditions.
https://littleprincesses.org.uk

BAKPA (Bristol Area Kidney Patients Association)
They supplement the work of the Bristol Renal Unit and its’ satellite units throughout the South West, working to improve the treatment, welfare and comfort of kidney patients and their carers and families.
https://bakpa.org.uk

Why BAKPA? Chris (my husband) needed a kidney transplant. I donated my kidney through the 'Sharing Scheme', which means my kidney went to a stranger and their partner's kidney came to Chris.

The hospital told us about BAKPA and that they had a house close to the hospital, that at the time of surgery, family members could use. This came in very handy as you can imagine for family members coming from afar.

During lockdown 2 (I think) I looked at the BAKPA website and realised they might need some help on that front. Being a web designer, I offered my support and together with Colin the webmaster (and fellow donor) we recreated the website. As you might have read above, I am now quite involved with the committee. The committee members are mostly kidney donors, recipients or carers. 

Do you know you can live with only one kidney?
Read more info here about kidney donation here:
https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/become-a-living-donor/

More about the kidney sharing schemes:
https://transplant.tv/themes/lets-talk-about/#/sharing-schemes

Why not grow and donate your hair?
Read more about this here:
https://www.littleprincesses.org.uk/donate-hair