Portsmouth News

Redhead Lily loses 14 inches of hair for Little Princess Trust

Schoolgirl, 10, raises £1,485

- By BELINDA DICKINS The News belinda.dickins@jpimedia.co.uk

HAPPINESS will be spread to a child experienci­ng hair loss, thanks to a schoolgirl’s generous donation of more than 14 inches of her hair.

Lily Torah, 10, had her red curls cut short to support The Little Princess Trust, which provides wigs to children and young people.

The Portsmouth Grammar School pupil took on the selfless task to raise £100, as well as have a wig made out of her hair.

However, friends, family and teachers got behind the kindhearte­d youngster to donate almost £1,500 towards her charitable efforts.

Lily, from Cowplain, said: ‘I wanted to donate my hair to this charity because it had grown so long and I knew my red curls would probably be quite rare.

‘ I wanted to make someone feel happy again and I hope my donation will help just a little.

‘I am so surprised by how much I have raised! We only expected to raise £100, so to raise £1,485 in just a few days is amazing.

‘Thank you to my family, friends, hairdresse­r, teachers and my dad's colleagues at University of Southampto­n for helping raise so much money.’

Kind comments flew in with the donations, commending Lily on her brave fundraisin­g effort, and her parents are very proud.

Mum Bryony Hart, an English teacher at Portsmouth Grammar School, said: ‘Lily was quick to offer her hair to The Little Princess Trust because she knows how harrowing losing one's hair can be after her aunty underwent chemothera­py during her fight against breast cancer.

‘We have been really delighted by her utter selflessne­ss and determinat­ion to do something for someone who she'll never meet. Being able to think beyond one's one needs and wants is quite a big challenge at the moment, and her efforts have been a reminder of the power of community and kindness.’

Dad Russel Torah, a researcher at University of Southampto­n, added: ‘We are incredibly proud of her. She was very nervous the night before as I think it hit her just what it meant to have all her hair cut off.

‘But when she understood how much joy her hair would give to someone else it was a small price to pay and the support of so many family, friends and colleagues was inspiratio­nal.’

Visit justgiving.com/ fundraisin­g/bryony-hart5 to donate.

I wanted to donate because I knew my red curls would probably be quite rare. Lily Torah

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 ??  ?? BEFORE AND AFTER Lily raised £1,485 in just a few days for the Little Princess Trust as well as having a wig made
BEFORE AND AFTER Lily raised £1,485 in just a few days for the Little Princess Trust as well as having a wig made

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