Little Princess Trust hair hero
Seven-year-old Campbeltown girl Mia McConnachie returned to primary school this month with a weight off her shoulders – literally – after having eight inches (20cm) of her hair cut off to make wigs for children affected by hair loss.
Mia, who has just started P3 at Dalintober Primary School, not only donated her own locks to the Little Princess Trust, but she also raised £1,160 in sponsorship, which is enough to fund the creation of at least two wigs at a cost of £550 each.
Inspired
The youngster was inspired to help the Little Princess Trust, a UK charity that provides real hair wigs, free of charge, to children and young people who have lost their hair as a result of cancer treatment or other illnesses, after seeing a video advertisement on social media.
In response to being unable to accept hair donations because of the coronavirus pandemic, the charity launched its ‘Let It Grow!’ campaign, encouraging people to grow their hair during lockdown in the hope of receiving donations of longer hair once things returned to normal.
Mia embraced the challenge and, having not had her hair cut since long before lockdown, she was able to donate one inch more than the seven-inch minimum.
On Wednesday, August 5, Mia visited hairdresser Iona MacLean – who happens to be her best friend’s mum – at The Salon, to have her hair cut and her remaining hair transformed into a grown up, shoulder-length bob.
Asked if she was nervous about having so much of her hair taken off, Mia said she was excited because her hair will be used in wigs for sick children.
She added that she was also excited because she knew it would take half the time to wash and brush. She said: ‘I am really, really happy with all the money I raised to make two wigs – my hair grows back very very very quickly so I wasn’t scared getting it cut. Hopefully it will be long enough for my Highland dancing bun again next year.’
Mia’s family and friends told the Courier they were very proud of her, adding: ‘For such a young girl, she has raised so much money to help people who need it.’