Cancer Survivor Offers Free Haircuts for Kids With Hair Loss

After losing her own hair during chemotherapy, Carla Whelan knows exactly how much a good wig can change a child's life.

Whelan, CEO of Regis and Supercuts in the West Midlands, is offering free haircuts at her salons for anyone willing to donate at least 12 inches of hair to the Little Princess Trust. The Hereford-based charity creates real-hair wigs for over 2,000 children and young people each year who have lost their hair to cancer and other conditions.

"I found out I had breast cancer in 2024. I didn't see it coming," Whelan said from Worcester. Losing her hair during treatment was "particularly traumatic," but wearing a wig gave her confidence back and allowed her to continue working without everyone knowing about her diagnosis.

That personal experience inspired her to help other people facing the same struggle. Her salons in Redditch, Dudley, Birmingham and other West Midlands locations now partner with the charity to collect donations, create ponytails and plaits, then restyle donors' hair as part of the free service.

Bethany was among the first to donate at the Merry Hill location in Dudley. Her cousin lost her hair to alopecia, making the decision easy.

"I think I was more excited than nervous," Bethany said. "Because my hair's been long for so long, to be able to help someone else, it's really nice."

Sunny's Take

What makes this story shine is how Whelan transformed her own trauma into tangible help for children. She understands that for kids going through cancer treatment, a wig isn't just hair. It's confidence, normalcy, and the ability to just be a kid again without stares or questions.

The ripples keep spreading too. Every person who walks into these salons with long hair becomes part of a chain of compassion that started with one woman's difficult journey and grew into support for thousands of young people.

Wendy Tarplee-Morris, who co-founded the Little Princess Trust, says the awareness these partnerships create is "just incredible." The charity depends entirely on donations of natural-colored hair at least 12 inches long to create their wigs.

For Whelan, the initiative completes a circle. She received support when she needed it most, and now she's making sure children get that same gift of confidence and normalcy during their toughest days.