11-year-old Kayla raises €1k for Intensive Care Unit
By Aideen O'Flaherty
AN 11-year-old girl raised over €1,000 for the Intensive Care Unit in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin last week, when locals in Bancroft in Tallaght sponsored her to get her hair cut so it could be donated to the UK-based Little Princess Trust charity.
The Little Princess Trust makes wigs for children who have lost their own hair as a result of cancer treatment and other conditions, and in an effort to support a local charity too, schoolgirl Kayla Donnelly also raised funds for Crumlin Children’s Hospital.
Eileen Gallagher (Nana), Kayla Donnelly, Mandy Hogan (hair stylist), Roisín Donnelly (mother) and Aleesha Donnelly (sister )
Cavan girl Kayla, who has spent most of her summer with her grandmother Eileen Gallagher in Bancroft, got her hair cut last Wednesday in Ross Adams in Tallaght.
The young girl, whose parents Roisin Gallagher and Tony Donnelly are originally from Bancroft and Ballyfermot respectively, was accompanied by her grandmother and mother when she got her haircut.
Her grandmother Eileen told The Echo: “Kayla had seen children with no hair on the TV last year, and she always said that when her hair was long enough, she’d donate it to charity.
“I was quite proud of her when she said she’d do it . . . for someone so young to have empathy for other children, I was quite touched.”
Kayla had been growing out her hair over the course of the year in preparation for the donation, and once she hit 14 inches, she decided it would be the right time to get her hair cut.
Kayla Donnelly
“She was down here for the summer holidays,” explained Eileen, “and she wanted to get her hair cut before she went back to school.
“She went around Bancroft with a sponsorship card [before her haircut] and friends and family donated too.”
Eileen added: “I think what she’s done is great. I had cancer two years ago, but I was fortunate and got through it.
“It’s a big thing for people to lose their hair, so getting a wig is a big thing for them.”
Kayla was happy with her new haircut and the amount of money she raised for the children’s hospital, and Eileen wanted to extend thanks to the locals in Bancroft who supported and sponsored her granddaughter.
“I want the people of Bancroft to know that their donations were very much appreciated, and I want to thank them for their generosity.”
