Boldon schoolgirl to donate hair to youngsters with cancer

Isla Peterson, 8, ready for her Little Princess hair cut

A schoolgirl, who has been touched by the plight of youngsters with cancer, has taken to growing her hair so it can be used for wigs.

Little Isla Peterson, eight, decided, last year, not to cut her hair after hearing about children who lose their hair as they battle the disease.

Instead Isla, a pupil at Hedworth Lane Primary School, has grown her hair so it can be eventually donated to the Little Princess Trust.

Her mum Angela, said: “It was last year when she first mentioned it but we didn’t think anything of it.

“We were watching Stand Up for Cancer and Isla mentioned it again. We looked into it and that her hair needed to be at least seven and half inchs long before it could be donated.

“Isla also asked if she could be sponsored for it.

“We set the target at £150 but she has already raised £300 - she’s doing really well.”

Mrs Peterson, from the Cotswold estate in Boldon, added: “Isla wanting to do something like this didn’t really surprise us, as she has such a kind nature - she’ll do anything for anyone.”

Isla is due to visit the hairdressers at the end of the month where her hair will be braided before it is cut.

It will then be sent to the Little Princess Trust.

The charity was launched by the parents of Hannah Tarplee who lost her battle with a Wilms tumour in 2005.

Since then, the charity has helped thousands of boys and girls by providing, for free, specialist real hair children’s wigs.

Anyone wishing to follow Isla in donating their hair, can find out more, including the guidelines on hair length and condition by visiting the trust’s website www.littleprincesses.org.uk