Gosport teenager braves chopping off 12 inches of hair for the Little Princess Trust

Gosport girl Louisa Osborne cut her hair off six years ago, aged 10, to raise £800 for the charity which provides wigs for children experiencing hair loss - and yesterday she sacrificed her long hair once again.

More than 12 inches were cut off to be donated alongside any money which Louisa raises, with her total currently standing at nearly £300.

Louisa, who has just left Bay House School, was planning to cut her hair for the charity after she went to prom, but went ahead with it earlier than planned after the event was postponed.

She said: ‘My hair is a big part of me and it’s how I’m identified because of the length of it. I can’t even fathom how someone who has lost their hair feels afterwards, it’s not fair that I can take it for granted.

‘I know as a child you want to fit in so much so I can’t even fathom how they would feel, people can be so judgemental, that can be really damaging to someone.’

Louisa’s sister Katie Cook, who runs mobile hairdressing business The Halo Effect, offered the haircut for free and dyed Louisa’s hair at the same time.

The 23-year-old is planning to put on a day of haircuts when she can, with the money to go towards Louisa’s efforts.

Portchester resident Katie, who is looking forward to going back to work on July 4, said: ‘She’s looking to raise as much as she can. For someone at 16 to do it again, I just think it’s such a brave thing to do.’

Louisa has experienced family members having cancer, including her grandad who sadly died from the disease, and she wants to do what she can to help the Little Princess Trust.

She added: ‘I just want to give more awareness to the charity, what it does is incredible. I’m going to try and do it as much as I can in my lifetime, I’m hoping to do it again in a few years’ time.’

To donate to Louisa’s fund, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/louisaosborne4

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