Jemima, ten, has long hair cut off to help cancer charity (From York Press)

Jemima, ten, has long hair cut off to help cancer charity

9:53am Wednesday 22nd August 2012 in News

A YORK girl had her long locks lopped off to help a charity which makes wigs for young cancer patients.

Ten-year-old Jemima Rowley held her breath at the Plush Hair salon in Castlegate, York, as a stylist cut short her crowning glory.

Afterwards, Jemima said: “It felt really good doing it. I knew it was going to make a big difference to somebody’s life. I wanted to do it because I had a dream that my little sister lost all her hair, then she got a wig and everyone was happy and when I woke up I thought, I can give someone that happiness, and so I did.

“I really love my new haircut and I know it will definitely help someone else.”

Jemima, a pupil at Scarcroft Primary School who is currently one of the actors performing in the York Mystery Plays , decided she wanted to donate her hair to the Little Princess Trust, which uses real hair to create wigs for children suffering hair loss during cancer treatment.

Since then, she has been growing it to the required length – about 18cm – and has been working hard raising the £350 needed for the charity to make her hair into a wig.

Her mum, Rosy Rowley, said she was “extremely proud” of her daughter.

“It all went very well. We now have a long plait in cling film, ready to send to the charity,” Rosy said.

“Jemima was very good and very pleased with her new short bob. She said it was a win-win situation. She got a nice new haircut and a fantastic charity benefits from it. I am extremely proud of her. It was all her own idea – I’m proud she is so selfless.”