A seven-year-old Ballybrittas girl recently sacrificed much of her crowning glory by taking part in the Locks of Love for LauraLynn hair donation fundraiser.
Poppy Behan, a first class pupil at Rath National School, parted with a substantial amount of her beautiful long blonde tresses to fundraise for LauraLynn, Ireland’s children’s hospice.
She helped two charities by doing so, raising money for children with life limiting conditions in LauraLynn while also creating a wig for a child in need through the Little Princess Trust.
“She just decided she wanted to cut her hair into a bob. It was nearly 20 inches long,” said Poppy’s mother, May McEvoy.
“Initially I thought it was a phase but she was adamant. I had heard about the Little Princess Trust and the fundraisers for LauraLynn through my job as a public health nurse in Dublin,” she said.
“Some of the families I nursed would have received support from their services. I suggested we donate the hair and raise some money.
“I explained to Poppy about little children losing their hair due to medical issues, like treatment for cancer. Both of her grandfathers recently passed away from cancer so when she heard this she was very keen to help,” said May.
“Poppy said: “I have so much hair it would be good to share it.’ It was actually her first proper haircut and she didn’t mind in the slightest.
“The girls in Stylebar in Portlaoise were great with her. She has participated in fundraising like ‘Do it for Dan’ but this is her first solo fundraiser.
“She is delighted to hear about the amount raised which currently stands at €660. She said the money will make the children in LauraLynn very happy and she hopes to raise even more before the fundraiser finishes. Every morning since it started she asks: ‘’How much money do we have now, mam’?’”
The youngest of three children, her parents May and Damien, brother, Michael, and sister, Emily, are very proud of her.
Anyone who wishes to donate can click below:
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