Earlier this week I saw a beautiful post on Facebook. I was so touched by it that I just wanted to help share the story to a wider audience. Particularly with the growth of Pompey Bloggers and the opportunity to share local stories.
Hannah, my friend from college, posted a message about her daughter Chloe and a donation she made.
"So immensely proud of this little lady. 28cm of hair cut off to donate for wigs to be made for children by #littleprincesstrust I cant describe how lucky I am to have such a kind, caring and beautiful daughter"
For those, like me, that don't know about Little Princess Trust, heres what Ive found out.
The Little Princess Trust provides real hair wigs free of charge to boys and girls across the UK and Ireland that have sadly lost their own hair due to cancer treatment and other illnesses.
The Trust itself has no formal funding and as such relies solely on the efforts of community fundraisers and donations.
The Little Princess Trust was launched in 2006 by the parents of Hannah Tarplee, along with help from friends and from Hannah’s school, Hereford Cathedral Junior School. Fast forward 11 years and over 5,000 real hair wigs have been given freely to sick children.
I asked Hannah why her 7 year old had decided to do something so thoughtful. I maybe wrong but this is something that I think most 7 year olds wouldn't think about. I know plenty of teenagers that still wouldn't think about donating or helping a charity in this way. Heck, if I stop being ageist I know loads of adults too!
Hannah replied by telling me Chloe's Nanny had cancer and lost all her hair, so Chloe knew about the side affects of cancer treatment.
In fact Chloe herself had been in hospital just 18 months ago with meningitis. While there she received a free gift. That gift and kindness was something that Chloe wanted to repay. She wanted, I think, to pay it forward in her own way (just saying pay it forward makes me think of the Hayley Joel Osment film, which then makes me want to cry).
After her stay in hospital Chloe decided to collect up a load of toys (she even started a a Go Fund Me Page to raise more money for toys to donate) and drop them off at the hospital for other children.
When Chloe and Hannah dropped off the toys, they saw a very poorly little girl with leukaemia who had lost her hair. Chloe said how lucky she was to have so much hair and wished she could share it. That thought stuck with this very thoughtful 7 year old. She decided there was something more she could do to help. She started to grow her hair with a purpose, she had decide to donate some of her own hair to help children like the little girl she saw that day.
I would like to add a small bit about Hair 4 Boys from their website too. "The Little Princess Trust supplies real hair wigs to boys as well as girls. Sometimes supporters might question whether the charity only provides to girls, given the Trust’s name. However, through the Hair 4 Boys arm of the charity, boys with cancer and other hair loss conditions are supplied with wigs as well."
I am super proud of this little girl I have never met. I hope this post in its on way helps to share her message and thoughtful action. If you would like to join Chloe in supporting Little Princess Trust then please visit their website to find out more.
