TEENAGER Rachel Eager from West Kilbride has chopped off her hair for charity.

The 16-year-old is donating her hair to the Little Princess Trust who make real hair wigs for boys and girls who suffer hair loss, mainly through cancer.

She was looking for sponsorship to help raise the cost of £350 which is what it costs to make one wig requires at least seven inches of hair to make.

But all of Rachel’s fundraising meant she collected a staggering £1,200.

And on Saturday, March 28, she went under the hairdresser’s blade.

The fifth year Largs Academy student said: “I firmly believe that life is a lottery and if one is so unfortunate as to have cancer, especially as a child which must be incredibly difficult to both cope with the stigma and pain and just getting through without the added extra of looking different from everyone else at school.

“We all know what kids are like, as soon as someone has different coloured tights on they laugh.

"Imagine if someone didn’t have their hair, it must be so very hard.

"Which is why the charity is spectacular – a child can get a wig which the charity covers the price of and have the opportunity to feel like royalty again. The charity itself does not charge the child, unlike other cancer aiding organisations, which is why I am fundraising to cover the cost of manufacturing the wig.” Rachel’s friend Abbie Fairclough was also having her hair cut for the charity at Charles Alexander’s Hair Salon.

Rachel’s mum Fiona added: “We just want to thank everyone who has donated to this wonderful cause.

"A big thank you to Charles Alexander in Saltcoats who kindly gave Rachel a balloon, flowers, a voucher for a cut and blow dry and a shampoo gift set.

"They made Rachel feel very special and made a fantastic job of her hair.

"They also kindly did not charge for her hair cut so the money for that has went to The Little Princess Trust.

"Also many thanks to Ms Savage at West Kilbride Primary, who kindly allowed Rachel and me to sell cakes at our baking stall on Friday.

"We raised a fantastic sum of £130, thank you so much, we hope you enjoyed the cakes.

“Again many thanks to everyone who has helped raise this fantastic sum.”  If anyone still wants to donate they can do so at mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/hairtodaycrowntomorrow.

If you don’t want to donate online, you can donate at Ivybank Vets, who has a sponsor sheet or at the sweetie shop in West Kilbride, where there is a donation box.

Charles Alexander also has a donation box in his Saltcoats branch.