Natalia loses her long locks in aid of charity
THE Little Princess Trust is a UK based charity that provides real hair wigs, free of charge, to children and young people up to the age of 24 who have lost their hair as a result of cancer treatment or other illnesses.
After hearing about the organisation at her School in Ballydesmond, kind hearted 6th class pupil Natalia Kraus decided to donate her beautiful long hair.
Natalia’s Mum Marzena told The Corkman her daughter had been thinking a lot about other children who are very sick and lose their hair because of chemotherapy.
Shortly afterwards at, Aileen Brosnan’s Salon in Knocknagree, Natalia said goodbye to her lovely long locks.
“I was sad at first because my hair took a long time to grow but I know it will make a child with cancer smile when she gets a wig made from it” Natalia said.
When her hair grows long once more, she has resolved to donate it again to continue bringing happiness to sick children.
The Little Princess Trust has a network of salons and wigs are fitted at an approved salon closest to the customer. They begin by matching the natural hair colour as closely as possible and because they use real hair, the wig can be cut, curled, or straightened to match an original look, or to create an entire new style.
Providing free real hair wigs is at the heart of what the Trust does, but they also want to support the development of less aggressive and less toxic cancer treatments.
In 2016, thanks to the huge efforts of a team of fantastic fundraisers, they were able to begin funding academics and organisations involved in researching the causes of paediatric cancer.
When The Little Princess Trust was first established, the founders hoped for a day when there would no longer be need for an organisation like theirs and by continuing to fund research, they hope one day to make this a reality.
The organisation uses hair donations and fundraising monies sent to them by supporters such as Natalia, to manufacture and fit beautiful real hair wigs.
Established in 2006, the Little Princess Trust has supplied over 8,000 wigs to children and young people and have invested approximately £5 million in ground-breaking childhood cancer research.
From receiving hair donations at our office, through to fitting and styling a bespoke wig, it costs the charity approximately £550 to provide a real- hair wig free- of- charge, to wig recipients.
The Little Princess Trust currently supplies over 100 wigs every month and needs financial donations as well as hair donations, in order to fund the actual manufacturing of the wigs and wig-fitting service.
Readers can find out more about The Little Princess Trust by checking out their website www.littleprincesses.org.uk.