How’s that for a first haircut!

Date Published: 25-May-2011

A twelve year old schoolgirl from Ballinasloe shed an incredible three feet of her beautiful red hair last week – to help make life a little better for children with cancer.

Valerie Ward from Creagh, who is a pupil of Newtown School, had her hair cut for the very first time in her life, for charity by Samuel Radnai at MOHH, Athlone last week.

She donated three feet – or a yard – of her hair to the Rapunzel Foundation who make wigs for children who suffer from hair loss through illness, chemotheraphy or trauma.

The Rapunzel Foundation is the brainchild of hairdressers Anna Furlong from New Ross and Maeve O’Healy Harte from Athlone, who are rolling out the charity nationwide.

In order to participate, all you have to do is grow your hair to at least twelve inches and then have it cut.

For those who register as a hair donor, Rapunzel-

registered salons will cut their hair in to a new style, free of charge and give them guidance on keeping their new style looking its best at home.

But as is takes between five and 25 ponytails to make one wig, there is always a waiting list for children’s wigs.

The ponytails are sent to New Zealand where they will eventually be made into wigs for children – and these wigs will then be returned to Ireland to help the children who need them most.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.