A kind-hearted Portlaoise student grew her hair for over a year, and then had it cut off to donate to charity!
Sarah Colbert, who is studying applied social studies at Portlaoise College, donated her hair to the Rapunzel Foundation – a charity set up in Wexford by Anna Furlong, to give support to children and people of all ages who experience long term hair loss.
They work in conjunction with the Irish Cancer Society.
The former Scoil Chríost Rí student is delighted to have done it. “I always had it in my head to do it,” she said.
“It must be very stressful for someone going through cancer treatment to lose their hair,” she said.
This motivated her to help out. Amazingly, it takes between 20 and 25 ponytails to make just one wig.
“I had 14 inches cut off,” she said.
Condition
It took close to a year and a half for the hair to grow to that length. It also meant a lot more work for Sarah to manage it.
She said it took ages just to wash and condition her hair, something she doesn’t miss, now that it is cut into a shorter bob.
Anyone donating hair is not allowed to dye it. As a red head, Sarah’s hair will be in demand for people who want that colouring.
Sarah had her hair cut in Bankz Hair & Beauty in Portlaoise, who then then carefully boxed it up before it was donated to the Rapunzel Foundation.
Despite the effort involved, Sarah is delighted she did and hopes others will get involved.
“It was great to think that someone would benefit from it and I could help someone,” she said.
“I’ve been talking to people who said they would love to do it… I actually want to do it again,” she said.
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