A YATE school teacher has said goodbye to her long hair, so it can be used to help a sick child.
Students in Carly Bryan’s tutor group at Brimsham Green School tied, cut and shaved her head in front of a hall full of children and colleagues.
The event raised £2,793.50 for the Little Princess Trust charity, which will use her hair to make wigs for girls who have lost their own hair because of medical treatment.
Carly, who teaches food preparation and nutrition, said the Trust is the house charity, chosen by students.
She said: “My tutor group came up with the idea and the students have been instrumental in promoting the event, including making posters, PowerPoints and writing entries for the website and school newsletter.”
On the big day in January, the hair cut took place in the school drama hall, with special lighting and dramatic music.
Carly said: “I would like to personally thank the school for being so supportive of this event.
“The leadership team have all been incredibly supportive and encouraging. Staff have been amazing at organising and raising awareness with me.
Students cut hair ‘with confidence and grace’
“I would also like to thank students in my tutor group, who advertised and promoted the event and who cut my hair with confidence and grace.
Fellow ADT teacher Mrs Cotterell supported them by ensuring my new trim was as even as it could be, prior to teaching for the remainder of the day.
“I was actually, and more surprisingly, excited about having my hair removed. The opportunity to help others and also to try out new hair styles as my hair returns was a little exciting.
“I am pleased that we decided to embark on this event and hope it goes a long way in supporting young people to retrieve the confidence back that they may have lost during treatment.”
The Little Princess Trust 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 medical conditions.
It was set up by the parents of Hannah Tarplee, from Herefordshire, who lost her hair while being treated for a tumour, and died in 2005.
15,000 children helped
Since then the charity has provided more than 15,000 wigs to children and young people with hair loss, and raised £23 million for childhood cancer research.
A spokesperson for the charity said: “Donating your long locks to help children and young people experiencing the devastating effects of hair loss is an incredibly generous thing to do.”
To find out more about the charity visit the website littleprincesses.org.uk.