11-Year-Old Donates 14 Inches of Hair for Cancer Wigs

Most 11-year-olds change their minds about hairstyles every few months, but Emily-Jane Hyde kept her promise for four straight years.

The Trowbridge schoolgirl decided when she was just seven that she would grow her hair long enough to donate to children who'd lost theirs during cancer treatment. Last month, she finally walked into Salon Bijou in Westbury and donated more than 14 inches of flowing locks to the Little Princess Trust.

The charity transforms donated hair into real wigs for children and young people dealing with hair loss from cancer treatment and other medical conditions. Every wig is provided completely free of charge to families already facing enormous challenges.

Emily-Jane's mother, Lucie Hyde, watched her daughter's commitment never waver. "Emily-Jane decided years ago that she was going to grow her own hair really long so that she could donate it so the charity could make a wig to help a child going through treatment," she said.

But the generous student didn't stop at hair donation. She spent months raising money through creative efforts at school, including selling homemade crafts and organizing a "guess the sweets in the jar" game at her school's Christmas fair.

Her fundraising total reached £570, which is enough to cover the full cost of creating at least one custom wig for a child in need. The Little Princess Trust relies on both hair and financial donations to provide their wigs at no cost to families.

Sunny's Take

Even the hairstylist caught Emily-Jane's generous spirit. Loretta at Salon Bijou refused payment for the haircut, saying she supports the charity's mission and wouldn't charge for being part of something so meaningful.

What stands out most isn't just Emily-Jane's generosity, but her persistence. Four years is an eternity in childhood, filled with changing interests and new phases. Yet she kept her eyes on a goal that would help someone she'd never meet.

Her mother couldn't hide her pride: "We couldn't be more proud of Emily-Jane."

Through Emily-Jane's dedication, at least one child facing cancer treatment will receive a beautiful, confidence-boosting wig without their family spending a penny.