Caring Sophie donates 16 inches of hair to Little Princess Trust

A YOUNG girl said goodbye to her long flowing locks after getting her haircut and donating 16-inches of hair to children and young people who have had cancer treatment and are in need of wigs.

Sophie O’Brien is only 10-years-old, yet she has an overwhelming sense of care which pushed her to grow her hair and donate it to the Little Princess Trust.

The charity, which was set up in 2006, provides real hair wigs, free of charge to young people who have lost their own hair because of cancer treatment and other conditions.

Since its establishment, the UK-based charity has provided some 14,000 wigs to children and young people up to 24-years-old with hair loss.

Tallaght girl Sophie last year decided she would grow her hair out to ensure it was long enough for a wig after discovering Little Princess Trust.

Sophie, a pupil in St Dominic’s National School, went to Salon Diva on the Old Blessington Road to get her hair cut and make the donation.

St Dominic’s student Sophie O’Brien before and after she got her hair cut

“All the family are just so proud of her, she came up with this all by herself and did it on her own,” Sophie’s mam, Danielle Corrigan, tells The Echo.

“When I was her age, I never would have thought of doing something like this. She doesn’t know anyone affected by cancer or needing a wig, she just heard about other girls and their hair.

“She just said to me ‘I’d like to help somebody like me to have hair’.

“Even after she cut her hair, she was saying ‘I can’t believe I did that’, she was a bit overwhelmed but happy at the same time.”

Naturally a very caring girl, Sophie is also passionate about the environment, in particular the Save the Seas movement and animal rights.

While Sophie used her initiative to grow and donate her hair, she has also launched a fundraiser with all proceeds going directly to the Little Princess Trust.

Over the last seven years, the Little Princess Trust has also funded 107 research projects focussed on finding kinder and more effective treatment for all childhood cancers.

The impact of Sophie taking this project on has inspired her younger sister Ava (8) to do the same, but only after she makes her communion this year.

To support Sophie’s fundraising and awareness drive, visit: HERE.

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