Ted made a Fortune for LauraLynn Hospice

A LOCAL schoolboy donated 14 inches of hair to a charity that provides wigs to children with hair loss and has raised over €4,000 for LauraLynn – Ireland’s Children’s Hospice.

Six-year-old Ted Fortune from Firhouse has been growing his hair out since 2019, and last year he decided to continue growing it out with the aim of eventually donating it to charity once it grew long enough.

Last Friday, Ted got his long locks cut for Locks of Love for LauraLynn, where the charity encourages children to fundraise for them and to donate their hair to hair loss charities.

Ted’s mam, Kim Perkins, told The Echo: “He’s always had long hair, and during the first lockdown we suggested that he could keep growing it and donate it.

“We had seen LauraLynn’s Locks of Love campaign and it’s a charity that’s close to our hearts, and we’ve always wanted to do something for them.”

Ted (6) pictured before getting his hair cut

Ted, who attends Firhouse Educate Together National School, donated 14 inches of hair to the Rapunzel Foundation on Friday.

He’s delighted with his new haircut, and the money he’s raised for LauraLynn.

When asked how Ted was when he got his haircut, Kim said: “Not a bother on him, he was very excited.

“He absolutely loves his new haircut. He keeps getting everyone to feel the back of his head because he’d never had his head shaved before.”

Ted pictured after his hair, which has been donated to the Rapunzel Foundation, was cut

The young boy also has a spring in his step as a result of the money he has raised for LauraLynn, which at the time of going to print was over €4,000, and his parents, Kim and Ciarán Fortune, are proud of their son’s charitable spirit.

“A lot of people have left really lovely comments on the donation page and I think he feels really good about it. He has such a sense of pride,” said Kim.

“We’re so proud of him, and we can’t get over how much was raised. We feel very lucky that Ted’s such a lovely boy, and we’re so happy that he’s hearing all of the nice things that people are saying about him.”

Donations for Ted’s LauraLynn fundraiser will be accepted on Ted’s fundraising page HERE  until November 10.