Mica gets the chop for charities
Nine-year-old Mica Amaut Nimmo is being hailed a hair hero after having 13 inches of her long locks cut off to benefit two charities.
The Dalintober Primary School pupil is donating her cut hair to the Little Princess Trust, to help make wigs for children and young people affected by hair loss, and she is donating money raised through sponsorship to Comic Relief.
In 2019, Mica’s family moved to Campbeltown from Peru, where it’s common for girls to have very long hair.
‘Mica has wanted her hair cut for ages, for maybe three years, since before she came to Scotland,’ explained her mum Elizabeth.
‘She is very sporty and, so, a shorter haircut is much easier for her to manage.
‘She didn’t want her hair to go to waste and thought maybe it could benefit other children who have illnesses that make their hair fall out or those having cancer treatment.’
Mica also decided to raise money for charity and chose Comic Relief because funds raised are spent helping poor and disadvantaged people both in the UK and in the world’s poorest communities.
Gayle Durnin at Gloss Hair did the honours on Tuesday March 1, turning Mica’s long do into a sleek bob. She very kindly did not charge for the haircut as a donation to the cause.
The last time Mica had short hair was when she was an infant but despite the big change, she is very pleased with her decision.
‘She wasn't scared, only happy,’ Elizabeth said.
‘She has only ever had her hair slightly trimmed in her lifetime and it was probably at its longest during lockdown. She is very excited about the change of look.’
Elizabeth added: ‘Mica wanted her hair cut and her dad and I are extremely proud that she wasn’t just thinking entirely about herself but thought about how she could use her haircut as an opportunity to help benefit other children.
‘The money she is raising for Comic Relief will help so many disadvantaged children in this country, abroad and, of course, in Ukraine.
‘We think how grateful we are to be able to live in a peaceful country, while, for many, simple activities like getting a haircut are secondary to basic survival.’
Mica has already smashed her initial fundraising target of £50, raising an incredible £325 on her JustGiving page, but she would welcome any additional donations.
Visit justgiving.com/ fundraising/elizabeth-nimmo-de-amaut to donate.
‘Thank you to everyone who has donated so far,’ said Elizabeth, ‘Mica really never expected to raise so much just from a haircut.’