Limavady girl raises £1,000 for The Little Princess Trust

A kind-hearted young girl from County Derry has cut her long locks to help raise money for a children's cancer charity.

Layla Stewart (9) from Limavady has raised over £1,100 for The Little Princess Trust through her recent hair cut.

Sharing her thoughts on the project, Central PS pupil Layla said: “I heard about the Trust and want to help children who need a wig. I've grown my hair super long and now ready to get it cut. Please help me raise the funds for the wig to be made for children in need. I'm raising money in aid of The Little Princess Trust and every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.”

Layla’s mum Nichola Stewart spoke to the County Derry Post about her pride for her daughter and doing their bit for charity. “We have had family members that have sadly passed away from cancer including Layla’s grandad. We have always been looking for something that we could do just to help.

“Layla is just a lovely kind child and she wanted to do what she could to help people. She was saying ‘mummy what can I do to help people’. Her hair was really long, she just kept growing it.

“So I came across The Princess Trust, explained to her that it is a project for making children’s wigs. She replied ‘Mummy, when can I cut my hair to make a wig and help make somebody smile’.

“It went from there. I only had the Go Fund Me up a few days when he raised £400. We are lucky enough that we are going to be able to donate 12 inches of Layla’s hair to a child that needs it. Her hair is going to be quite short, we are all a wee bit nervous but hair grows back.”

Nichola continued: “When we looked into it we found out that 12 young children are diagnosed with cancer every day in the UK. As a mummy I put myself in that position and thought if we can help in any way and are in a position to do so then we will. We were hoping to get to the £700 mark because that’s how much it takes to make a wig.

“My father works in a local school and they have rallied around us to fundraise. Layla has also taken in leaflets to school and they have been great at helping fundraise also.”

The Little Princess Trust provides free real hair wigs to children and young people, up to 24 years, who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment or other conditions.

They also fund childhood cancer research searching to find kinder and more effective treatments.

To find out more you can visit littleprincesses.org.uk and to donate to Layla’s fundraising you can do so here gofundme.com /f/laylas-getting-the-chop