Jersey Reporter Donates Hair Honoring Cancer Friend Alex

When Antonia Rubio lost her friend Alex Collier to cancer this March, she knew the best way to honor him was by giving hope to other young patients fighting the same battle.

The Jersey journalist and cancer survivor is donating her hair to The Little Princess Trust, a charity that creates wigs for children who lose their hair during treatment. She's cutting it this weekend in memory of Alex, who died at just 25 from a rare bone cancer called spindle cell sarcoma.

Antonia, now cancer-free for two years, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at 24. Alex received his diagnosis around the same time. In Jersey's small community of young cancer patients, the two connected through fundraisers and Antonia's Christmas Hamper initiative.

"There aren't many young people in Jersey who have cancer," Antonia explained. "So the majority of us end up knowing each other and connecting."

Since finishing her treatment in 2023, Antonia has been growing her hair specifically for this purpose. She only experienced minimal hair loss during treatment, but many of her friends in the cancer community lost all their hair.

The timing felt right when another medical student shaved her head at a fundraiser just weeks after Alex's passing. Antonia's friend Sophie Reid, a brain cancer patient who runs a hair studio, offered to do the cut for free.

Why This Inspires

Antonia's mission goes beyond the scissors and donations. She wants people talking about how cancer affects young people and takes young lives in their community. Her fundraiser for CLIC Sargent Jersey has already topped £1,000, supporting islanders with cancer up to age 25.

Alex's mother Jackie is pushing for cancer education in schools after it took nearly a year for doctors to diagnose her son correctly. Because Alex was young, active, and had been skiing, doctors initially missed the signs and prescribed anti-inflammatory medication instead.

Early diagnosis saves lives with most cancers. Jackie wants teenagers to know they can get the same cancers as older adults, and to recognize warning signs like persistent bone pain, unexplained fatigue, or swelling.

Antonia's haircut transforms personal loss into tangible hope. Her donated hair will become a wig for a child facing treatment, while the money raised supports young people navigating their own cancer journeys.

"I hope that this fundraiser gets people talking about Alex and what an amazing person he was," Antonia said. "His life was taken too soon, showing that cancer can affect anyone, no matter their age."

One young woman's grief is becoming dozens of conversations, thousands of pounds for support services, and real hair for a child who needs it.