Sunderland schoolgirl spends four years growing hair to have it cut off for charity

A determined Sunderland youngster has spent four years growing her hair - just to have it chopped for charity.
Lily Hudson with her long hair.Lily Hudson with her long hair.
Lily Hudson with her long hair.

Lily Hudson was only three-years-old when she watched a video clip about someone donating their long hair to The Little Princess Trust.

The charity makes wigs for children who have lost their own hair, usually through cancer treatment.

Young Lily Hudson who has waited four years to have her hair cut for charity.Young Lily Hudson who has waited four years to have her hair cut for charity.
Young Lily Hudson who has waited four years to have her hair cut for charity.
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Despite her very young age, since she saw the clip, Lily has continued to tell everyone she is growing her hair to donate for the wigs.

Now, the time has finally come for the Easington Lane youngster to go under the scissors.

Lily’s proud mum, Ashley Surtees, said every time they went to the hairdressers Lily would be in tears saying she didn’t want her hair cut because she needed to grow it.

The 28-year-old nursery nurse said her daughter would only ever have a trim to keep her locks tidy.

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Ashley said: “She was only at nursery when she saw the video of someone else donating their hair and said that’s what she wanted to do.

“I explained to her that her hair was too short and she would need to grow it for a while.

“We had tears every time we went to the hairdressers and we just let it grow.”

Ashley, who is also mum to one-year-old Lola, said they recently decided to measure Lily’s hair to make sure it was long enough and it is now 24inches.

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The youngster’s dad, Tony Hudson, 29, a training co-ordinator, set up a just giving page for people to make donations to Lily’s fundraising and people have already pledged more than £900.

Ashley said: “We have been amazed by the amount being raised and very proud of Lily.

“When we set up the page and shared it, people who knew her at nursery said they could remember her saying she was growing her hair for The Little Princess Trust.

“She is really excited about having it cut now. We have been reading all the messages people have left for her on the just giving page and she is over the moon.”

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Lily’s aunty, Lucy Hudson, is also getting her hair cut off for the charity to give Lily moral support.

Lily, a pupil at Hetton Lyon’s Primary School, will be going along to Janet Maitland’s hair salon in Hetton on August 11, where staff have offered to cut her hair for free.

If anyone would like to make a donation they should visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lily-ava-hudson.