Surfleet mum-of-two Sophie Bailey is hoping to raise awareness for the Little Princess Trust after losing her locks for charity.
The 23-year-old from Cheal Road decided to help the charity – who provide real hair wigs to children who have lost their own hair through illness – after concerns during her second pregnancy.
And she now wants more residents and hair salons of South Holland to consider donating rather than throwing their hair away after a trim.
She explained: “I had a scan while pregnant and, when the results came back, there was a high risk my baby could have Down Syndrome.
“I thought of so many silly insignificant things all based on my little girl’s appearance – knowing that none of that would matter once I held her happy and healthy.
“There are mothers and fathers out there that have the same thoughts – wondering what their child will look like, never contemplating that their child may become ill and lose that beautiful hair they had once dreamed about.
“So I decided that if I could help in the smallest way possible, even if it sparks a smile and a sense of normality for just a second for both the parents and the child, it’ll make the tangles and pulled hair insignificant.
“Hopefully my hair, along with others donated, will help to give children the confidence to not give up and fight through it.
“Or for the children who aren’t going to make it, just to let them look in the mirror and not see their illness, but to see themselves and do what they want to do with the time they have left.”
Sophie has started a fundraising campaign for her efforts and, although she has raised more than initially planned, any other donations would be gratefully received.
She has started a justgiving page – www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Sophie-Louise-Bailey – for donations.
Sophie continued: “You just want your baby to be healthy and, everything was ok when Elsie was born, but it’s something you always think about when you’re pregnant.
“For parents with terminally ill children I don’t know how they find the courage and strength to bring both themselves and their families through. I saw something about the Little Princesses Trust and decided to do something to help them.”
