For the past two years, eleven-year-old Oscar Barrett from Carterton has been growing his hair. A keen drummer and lover of rock music, the golden locks went with his ‘rock’ image. When people commented about his hair, saying people would pay good money for it, he decided to try and raise money for charity. When he realised that his hair could also be used to make a wig for a child or young person in need after cancer treatment, he set the wheels in motion to get sponsorship to have his golden curls cut short.
Oscar chose to support the Little Princess Trust, a charity established in 2006 by the parents of Hannah Tarplee. Diagnosed with a Wilms tumour in 2004, Hannah had loved her hair and losing it was very traumatic. Her parents, Wendy and Simon, wanted to find a suitable wig for their daughter to wear during her treatment. Having found a suitable wig, the effect it had on Hannah’s mental wellbeing was significant. When Hannah sadly passed away a year later, with many offers of financial and practical help, her parents thought it would be a fitting tribute to their daughter to establish a charity dedicated to providing real hair wigs for children and young people aged up to 24 years. The charity initially covered only the UK and Ireland but now their service extends to other parts of Europe and beyond.
The date of Saturday 21 May was selected for Oscar’s haircut. Prior to this his mother set up a Just Giving page and asked people who went to their local pub, the Mason’s Arms, to offer their support and put donations in the collection tin. Family friend and local hairdresser Leanne Hughes had Oscar come to her home salon for ‘the big chop.’
Having put the word out on social media prior to the haircut, Oscar received much support and donations came in from so many wonderful people, family, friends, and friends of friends, with some anonymous donations. His grand total came to a whopping £1,011 and his hair made six plaits, ranging from ten to twelve inches, all ready to donate.
The money which Oscar has raised will help the charity in its funding of pioneering research into new and better treatments for all paediatric cancers. The Little Princess Trust, however, needs more people like Oscar to help fundraise in order to help even more children and young people.
“We are so incredibly proud of Oscar,” says his Mum Millie. “We cannot thank everyone enough for their support, kind words and generosity.”
One parent, Rebecca, whose daughter benefitted from a wig received from the Little Princess Trust during her cancer treatment was quick to congratulate Oscar on his fundraising. “What your son has done is amazing. Please tell him from me how proud I am of him, and Grace would be too. These wigs give back confidence more than you could imagine. When Grace first had radiotherapy, after her hair grew back, she donated it herself. At the time she didn’t want to wear a wig but just before her second chemo, she asked for one. When it was fitted at the hair salon she was utterly pampered and made to feel so special.”
To find out more about how you can donate or get involved in fundraising, visit littleprincesses.org.uk
