SEVEN-YEAR-OLD Lilia Day looks set to raise thousands for charity with her plans to have her hair cut short to help children with cancer.

Lilia learned children can become ill with cancer after the two-year-old daughter of a close family friend was diagnosed with leukaemia.

When she was told how chemotherapy can cause hair to fall out, the Rufforth Primary School pupil said she wanted to donate her own hair to make a wig for a cancer patient.

Lilia said: "My mummy's friend Beki has a little girl called Georgiana Pooley and she is two, just like my little sister and is really poorly with leukaemia and has lost all her hair. So I am raising money for little girls like Georgi so that they can have special wigs made with real hair to help make them feel a little bit happier."

Lilia has been growing her hair for three years. She is donating about 12 inches of her locks to the Little Princess Trust to make a wig when she has her hair cut on February 15.

She is also raising money for the charity and has so far raised about £1000 after being inspired to help in such a way when a friend from her dancing school, Addison Chapman, did the same thing.

Her mum, Sarah said: "I'm very impressed at how selfless she has been.

"I tried to talk her out of it as I was worried she would regret it but she said it was her hair and she could choose.

"Lilia said she has got such long hair - and everyone tells her how beautiful it is - she wants a little girl who has no hair to have hers so they can feel a bit more normal."

If she reaches over £1500, they will share the money with Candlelighters in Leeds.

To sponsor Lilia, visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/LiliaDay