Nine-year-old Victoria will lop off her luscious locks for LauraLynn
Victoria Bayley
NINE-YEAR-OLD Carlow girl Victoria Bayley is taking part in the Locks of Love for LauraLynn’s hair donation fundraiser.
Victoria decided that she will donate 12 inches of her hair to The Little Princess Trust and raise funds for LauraLynn Ireland’s Children’s Hospice on iDonate.
In the first 24 hours, Victoria managed to raise over €600 and hopes that figure will continue to rise in the lead-up to the big chop on Saturday 15 February.
Victoria told she got the idea to donate her hair from a Disney show called . The show follows two best friends, one of whom has cancer and undergoes treatment throughout the series. Victoria recalled watching the show and seeing the young girl on screen struggle with cancer and losing her hair and said it made her realise how fortunate she was not to have the same struggle.
When Victoria’s mother explained to her that people donate their hair to have wigs made for people suffering from hair loss, Victoria knew straightaway it was something she wanted to do.
“I said, if you want to do it, I will support you in whatever way and we can raise money for charity as well,” recalled her mum Alison.
Despite her excitement, Victoria said that she is feeling a little bit nervous, although all the love and support she has received from friends and family has been a huge inspiration for her.
“Everyone in Victoria’s life is beyond proud of her,” said Alison.
“All her family and friends think she’s very brave and they’re very impressed with her to do this and she’s getting lots of lovely comments. Everyone’s very impressed with her, because she’s only nine and it’s a big deal to chop off a lot of your hair.”
Victoria is a third-class student at Green Road NS, where she has received support from friends and teachers alike for her brave decision. Victoria told how school friends were very supportive of her, offering words of encouragement and even donating some of their pocket money to the cause.
Victoria’s iDonate page will be active until Monday 17 February, where donations can be made to LauraLynn Children’s Hospice through the Locks of Love campaign.
Locks of Love is a hair donation initiative that raises funds for LauraLynn Children’s Hospice and donates hair to The Little Princess Trust. LauraLynn Children’s Hospice raises funds for children with life-limiting conditions, while The Little Princess Trust takes donations of hair and turns them into real wigs, which they provide for free to both children and adults who have lost their hair through cancer treatment or other conditions.
Donations can be made at Support Victoria Bayley’s Fundraising page on iDonate.ie.
