Things got hairy for Wylan during charity challenge
BOY WAS TEASED AT SCHOOL WHILE HE GREW HIS LOCKS FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER
A SCHOOLBOY who let his hair grow for two years to help other children affected by cancer refused to be put off by school bullies.
Wylan Devenport, 12, has been growing his locks for two years and finally had them cut on Saturday.
He faced taunts and was repeatedly called ‘a girl’ by classmates at school, but it didn’t stop him completing his kind-hearted plan.
The hair will now be donated to The Little Princess Trust, and used to make wigs for children who lose their hair during cancer treatment.
Wylan, from Partington, Trafford, initially decided to grow his hair after people he knew were affected by cancer.
His mum Julie said: “There’s a lot of charity appeals about cancer around, but you don’t see anything for children.
“Everyone seems to be doing it for adults so he decided to help one specifically for children like himself.”
Wylan, the youngest of six children, started secondary school last year, and Julie says he didn’t consider cutting his hair even after being teased by classmates. She said: “I was concerned when he started high school. I told the teachers why his hair was a little longer than it should be.
“He got quite a bit of teasing, people were calling him a girl.
“But he just turned the other cheek, it didn’t stop him. He just got on with it.”
Eventually growing over his shoulders, there was enough hair create six plaits which will be donated to the charity.
Julie added: “He knew it had to be a minimum of eight inches for a plait, and he made sure he kept it in perfect condition. He is still getting used to his new haircut. It was quite heavy when it was long.
“It took about an hour to cut off, it had to be done specially so it was cut in plaits, which are needed for the charity.”
His efforts have also raised more than £940 for the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group, and a fundraising page is still open for donations.
To donate visit: uk.virginmoney giving.com/WylanDevenport