Teen has hair chopped off to create a wig for young cancer sufferers (From Dorset Echo)

Teen has hair chopped off to create a wig for young cancer sufferers

2:30pm Tuesday 8th January 2013 in News By Joanna Davis

A THOUGHTFUL teenager has given up her long locks to help make wigs for young cancer sufferers.

Charminster schoolgirl Shannon Bessant, 15, arranged to get around 1ft of her hair chopped off in order to donate it to the Little Princess Trust.

The national charity provides real hair wigs for children who are suffering hair loss because of cancer treatment.

Thomas Hardye School student Shannon said: “Everyone at school was really supportive and I managed to raise £430 for the charity as well.

“My hair was pretty long and it felt quite weird to have it chopped off.

“I was thinking about doing something like this and I looked at the Cancer Research website and found information about the Little Princesses charity.”

Shannon had her hair cut at the Dorchester Hair Salon by owner Tracey Reed.

She said: “I had my hair in a plait and it was cut from top to bottom.

“It was put in a freezer bag, then sent off to the charity.”

Shannon, who is in year 11, said she is hoping to spread awareness about the Little Princess Trust.

“It’s quite a small charity but I hope I can help to make it more popular.

“I would encourage anyone else to do something similar,” she said.

See littleprincesses.org.uk for more information.