Updated on Jul 6th 2012 at 7:48 PM from the JustGiving API

Thank you for the birthday messages, although it has been 'postponed' as my beautiful Mam is out of pain and at peace after losing her long battle with GIST cancer. www.justgiving.com/Layla-Li

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I have decided to cut off almost all of my hair for charity (well to within a couple of inches of its life anyway)!

As many of you know, my mam was diagnosed with GIST in 2009 - a rare form of cancer - and I've decided to cut my hair off and raise some money for GIST Support UK, who work towards research, raising awarenss and developments in finding a cure for GIST cancers.

GIST (Gastrointestinal stromal tumours aka GISTs) are rare cancers. There are about 900 people in the UK diagnosed with GIST each year. The cause of GIST is so far unknown.

I'm aiming to raise at least £500 for GIST Support UK through sponsorship. My hair is now close to waist length, and has been long for about 6 years now, and I shall be getting it cut into a cropped pixie cut!

So it'll be quite a drastic change for me, as over the years you could say that I've become rather attached to my luxurious mane (hehe, gettit?)...

As a double whammy for charity, I've decided to donate my Rapunzel locks to The Little Princess Trust, a charity that supplies and fully funds wigs for children who have lost their hair through chemotherapy or alopecia.
http://www.littleprincesses.org.uk/default.aspx

Having preliminarily measured and weighed my hair there'll be enough to make an entire wig, as I shall be donating over 16 inches of hair to the Little Princess Trust!

Please help by donating whatever you can afford, as every little will go a long way to helping. And help raise awareness by spreading the word about these two causes.

So please dig deep and donate now.

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.

Updated on Apr 9th 2012 at 5:08 PM from the JustGiving API

thank you everyone so far!

Updated on Apr 9th 2012 at 10:30 PM from the JustGiving API

Made it to £100 already! Thankings you all :)

Updated on Apr 10th 2012 at 8:49 AM from the JustGiving API

Very very generous pledges so far, thank you all so much! Am already overwhelmed by your support and encouragement. It's not asking much, nor do I expect much as it really is the thought that counts; even if it's only a few pence that you can spare, it'll go a very long way to making a difference

Updated on Apr 17th 2012 at 1:33 PM from the JustGiving API

Have you donated yet? It's a charity double whammy- (GIST) cancer and kids.

Updated on Apr 17th 2012 at 1:38 PM from the JustGiving API

I realise I've been nagging about this, but it's for charity so I'm not apologising. I haven't asked for sponsorship for anything before, and won't again. So please, do your bit:

Updated on Apr 29th at 5:57 PM

We've made it to £500!
Thank you everyone for all of your kind support and generous donations.
The big cut is booked for Saturday 12th May, so stay tuned for pictoral evidence, as the big snip will be recorded for posterity! Before and after photos to follow...