Journalist cuts hair off for Little Princess Trust

And while it might seem unusual for a newlywed to take such drastic action, I have a good reason. 

As a journalist, I have the privilege of writing about people’s lives – both the highs and the lows. 

One issue I have found myself writing about time and time again is childhood cancer. 

In fact, I have lost count of the number of articles I have written which are about youngsters overcoming or succumbing to this awful disease. 

This also means that I have often written about amazing volunteers and selfless acts of fundraising to help cancer charities. 

This includes Little Princess Trust. 

The charity 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. 

It is one of the largest charity funders of childhood cancer research in the UK and, since 2016, has given funding to more than 100 clinical trials and projects. 

But the backstory behind this amazing organisaton is sadly one of heartbreak. 

The Little Princess Trust was established by the parents of Hannah Tarplee, their friends, and Hereford Cathedral Junior School. 

In 2004, five-year-old Hannah was diagnosed with a Wilms tumour.  

She loved her hair and losing it was very traumatic for her.  

Her parents, Wendy and Simon, searched high and low to find a wig suitable for Hannah, during her treatment and when they found one, it had a hugely positive effect on the schoolgirl. 

Hannah died in 2005. 

With so many offers of financial and practical help, her parents felt the most fitting tribute would be to launch a charity dedicated to providing real hair wigs for children and young people. 

The charity was born. 

Since then, The Little Princess Trust has provided thousands of real hair wigs and committed more than £23m across more than 128 projects covering all childhood cancers. 

So you see, it is hard to ignore the great work going on. 

When my fiancé proposed two-and-a-half years ago, I knew I wanted to grow my hair for the big day. 

As it grew longer and longer, the decision to donate it seemed an obvious one. 

Almost all of us have been impacted by cancer in one way or another and even I have been through my own cancer journey. 

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I also lost my cousin to leukemia in 1995, when she was aged just five.  

She was amazing, so brave, and took it all in her stride. But sometimes I think about how amazing it would have been for her if Little Princess Trust had been around then. 

There are countless inspirational stories from Norfolk alone. 

Take Carly Gorton, of Southburgh, near Hingham, who, in 2021, won the Overall Star Award at the Starts of Norfolk and Waveney Awards. 

She led the Little Princess Trust to create its first wig from afro hair, something considered almost impossible. 

After finding someone in America willing to take on the challenge, a then 10-year-old Carly shaved off her hair.  

The experiment was successful, and the wig was donated to a child with cancer. 

As I walk down the aisle tomorrow swishing my locks around, I’ll also be proud in the knowledge that in a few days' time 30cm (12 inches) of it will be going elsewhere to help a child or young person. 

It costs, on average, £700 to provide one wig and this cost covers the making, fitting, and styling of the wig. 

So, if you are able to delve into your pockets too, then I’d be so grateful for your support. 

• Visit the Just Giving page https://www.justgiving.com/page/donna-louise-bishop-newlywed-cuts-hair to donate.