Ten-year-old Niamh gets tresses cut for Rapunzel Volunteers needed for centre
KIND-HEARTED Niamh Farrell cut off her flowing tresses last week for the Rapunzel Foundation.
Ten-year-old Niamh from Sea Road in Arklow also raised a whopping €1,300 for Arklow Cancer Support.
Her proud mam Jenny said Niamh had decided to grow her hair to help out the Rapunzel Foundation after seeing details of the foundation online.
‘She saw details about the Rapunzel Foundation online and how they use donated hair to make wigs for children,’ said Jenny.
‘Niamh then said she wanted to continue growing her hair until it was the required length.
She also wanted to visit Arklow Cancer Support and when we were there, Mary O’Brien showed her pictures of a young girl wearing a Rapunzel Foundation wig and that really made her more determined to grow her hair so she could cut it.
‘Her granny has cancer and we as a family have received great support from Arklow Cancer Support so Niamh said she also wanted to raise money for them as well.
‘She basically asked everyone to donate money and people were very generous. She was growing her hair for about a year and last week she got it cut for Rapunzel.
‘She’s absolutely delighted with it’, said Jenny.
Niamh, who is a student in St Joseph’s NS, Templerainy, is the oldest child of Jenny and Mick Farrell and has a younger brother Aidan (9).
‘We are very proud of her’, said Jenny.
‘It is such a selfless thing to do. I was worried that she would change her mind when it came to getting it cut but the night before she was talking about the hair cut and she said to us “My hair will grow back” and I knew then that there would be no changing her mind.
‘She is very proud of herself as well. We’ve promised her some treats as a reward for doing such a generous thing for children in need.
‘Benita Kavanagh in Benita’s Hairdressers was fantastic as well. She did a lovely cut on her hair and she was brilliant at reassuring her as well.’
Niamh who is in fifth class got an extra special surprise in school after her hair cut when principal, Ms Dalton, announced details of her good detail to the whole school.
Jenny said that Niamh will be presenting the cheque to Arklow Cancer Support in the coming weeks when all the donations are tallied. THE County Wicklow Citizens Information Service is seeking volunteers to provide information to the community on topics like social welfare entitlements, medical cards, consumer affairs and employment rights.
The numbers using the service continues to grow and volunteers are needed in its Citizens Information Centre in Arklow.
‘Volunteers will be trained in all aspects of this interesting and rewarding work and no previous experience is required’, said Martina Cronin, the Development Manager with Co Wicklow Citizens Information Service.
‘We have over 50 volunteers in our centres who enjoy the challenge of doing something new. They are valued members of the team and we could not provide the service without our Volunteer Information Providers’, she said.
If you would like to make a difference in your community please telephone Martina on 087 617 2802 or 0761 07 6780. Alternatively you can email martina.cronin@citinfo.ie.
Co Wicklow Citizens Information Service provides an independent and confidential information, advice and advocacy service on people’s civil and social rights and entitlements on topics such as Social Welfare, employment, health, consumer issues and more.