Omagh school pals chop hair for charity

TWO best friends from Omagh touched by the plight of children with cancer have been inspired to cut their extremely long locks short for charity.

Now sporting stylish shoulder-length ‘dos, Quinn Hetherington and Rebecca Pritchard, both aged eight, donated 11 inches and 17 inches of their hair respectively to the Little Princess Trust.

Certainly ‘superhairoes’, the thoughtful pals have also raised £1,340 – and counting – for the charity, which provides free real hair wigs to children and young people, aged up to 24, who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment or other conditions.

The Trust further fund pioneering, life-saving research into childhood cancers.

Speaking to the UlsterHerald, Quinn, who is a pupil of Gibson Primary School, explained that she ‘pinky promised a friend’ who was wearing a wig from the Little Princess Trust that she would cut her hair for the charity.

“Helping the charity is important to me, as they helped my friend when she needed a wig,” Quinn, daughter of Giles and Doreen, said. “I’m so glad that my hair is going to help little boys and girls in need.”

In a previous act of kindness, Quinn – who is a sister of Nathan, Lauren and Jaxon – donated an impressive 12 inches of her hair to the Little Princess Trust three years ago. Delighted with her new funky, cropped hair style, Rebecca, daughter of Melanie and Darren Pritchard, said that she felt both ‘nervous and excited’ when going for the chop at ‘Waves By Tracy Swift’.

“But I felt amazing afterwards!” the Holy Family PS pupil, who is a sister of Megan and Caiden, described. “It looked great, and I knew that I had done it for a special cause.”

Quinn and Rebecca have expressed their thanks to everyone for their encouragement and generous donations. They have added a particular message of appreciation to Jemma McGowan of Omagh for highlighting their cause online, and offering encouragement.

 If you would like to donate towards the girls’ warm-hearted cause, and help raise even more funds for the Little Princess Trust, please visit: www.gofundme.com/f/rebecca-quinn-cut-hair-for-little-princess-trust