Lucy's locks ...and locks of thanks

NO turning back . . . Lucy has her hair cut at Darren Michael Hair in High Crompton

2 More Image(s) In Gallery

FOR most little girls, beautiful long flowing locks are their pride and joy.

But for six-year-old Lucy Needham they are a way of saying a massive thank-you to The Christie doctors and nurses who cared for her beloved nanna as she bravely battled pancreatic cancer before she died two years ago aged 53.

Lucy also knows her gorgeous curly hair will help another child coping with the trauma of losing theirs due to treatment for cancer and other serious illnesses.

Incredibly, kind-hearted Lucy has raised over £1,100 for The Christie in just three weeks through being sponsored to lose her long hair. Her 12 inch tresses, which were cut at Darren Michael Hairdressing, in High Crompton, on Thursday, are being donated to Little Princess Trust.

Her mum, Louise, says her daughter, a pupil at Mills Hill Primary School, in Chadderton, has been very determined to go for the charity chop for some time and has been growing her hair especially long for a year in preparation.

Louise, a teacher, says she and Lucy's dad, Tom, have been amazed by her care, compassion and determination and are exceptionally proud of her.

Determined

"Lucy said she wanted to do this after twins called Arielle and Georgina in her class had their hair cut for Little Princess Trust last year," said Louise.

"I told her she'd have to grow her hair and I thought she'd forget about it but a year later she said she'd grown her hair and wanted to do it.

"She wants to donate her hair to the trust but she was determined the money had to go to Christie where my mum worked as a sister for 10 years.

"She was also cared for at Christie by her colleagues when she had cancer and when Lucy went to visit her she was in awe of the doctors and nurses who were looking after her and appreciated what they were doing for her.

"She really looked up to my mum and she wants to do this to say thank you to Christie in memory of her.

"Me and her dad think what she's doing is amazing and we're so proud of her and her nan would have been too. We're overwhelmed by how much she's raised. We were thinking £200 but that has been absolutely blown out of the water.

"She doesn't seem bothered about having her hair cut. I think I'm more upset because I love spending time braiding it and we watch YouTube tutorials and do all sorts with it!"

Lucy's nan, Susan Howarth, was taken by cancer eight weeks after being diagnosed in November, 2014, and Louise said she was cared for by an "amazing team" on ward 4 at The Christie.

The "Lucy loses her curls" Just Giving page features a picture of Lucy and Susan which Louise says sums up their relationship.

Donations

"This was my mum's favourite photo because Lucy was so excited to have the photo taken with her as she was learning about nurses and sisters at the time at nursery," said Louise. "Lucy was very proud of her nanna in this photo."

As well as sponsorship from family, friends, work colleagues and St Herberts Rainbows where Lucy is a member, Louise says they've had lots of anonymous online donations.

"I think so many people have been touched by cancer and what Lucy is doing has touched a lot of hearts," she added.

"The motto at Lucy's school is "Enquiring minds, caring hearts", and I've emailed the head teacher to tell him how this is having a massive impact on my daughter and how grateful we are."

To support Lucy go to www.justgiving.com/Lucyscurls.