Girl's haircut aids children

Gracey Macdonald shows off her new hairstyle after having her long locks cut off and donated to the Little Princess Trust

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A SCHOOLGIRL from Lees is fundraising for a charity that supports her younger brother who has a rare genetic condition.

Gracey Macdonald (7) has also had her long locks chopped off for a charity which makes real-hair wigs for children who have lost their hair through cancer treatment.

The Hey with Zion Primary School pupil has donated over 11 inches of hair to the Little Princess Trust.

She has also raised just shy of £700 for SWAN UK (Syndromes Without A Name), which helps children with an undiagnosed rare genetic condition and has supported Gracey's 20-month-old brother Teddy, who has to be tube fed, has hearing aids and multiple allergies.

Dad Callum Macdonald said: "Gracey is such an outstanding little girl with a massive heart. She decided to donate her hair so someone else could feel happy again.

"We decided to fundraise for SWAN UK as there's thousands of families with babies like our Ted with undiagnosed genetic conditions who spend years looking for answers - we know how difficult that is."

SWAN UK also provides support for families and funds genetic studies.

The charity is paying for the family to go to Flamingo Land on April 28, which is Undiagnosed Children's Day.

Teddy is on the best programme the charity provides, known as the 100,000 Genome Project, which takes a minimum of two years to address the condition.

The project has the most advanced and in-depth look at a person's DNA by analysing the whole genome.

Gracey's mum Shaunny Akeroyd said: "I am so proud of her for having her hair cut off and for raising money. She loved having her hair long but because her brother hadn't yet got any she asked if she could give him hers."

Gracey decided to have her hair cut on Friday, March 3.

For more details and to donate visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Shaunny-Akeroyd.