Freddie's Hair Challenge - THE BIG CHOP!!

Hi, I'm Freddie, I'm 10 years old, and I have been growing my hair for nearly 4

years.

 

I will be donating my hair to The Little Princess Trust (www.littleprincesses.org.uk) and raising money for Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice

(www.bluebellwood.org) and Blood Cancer UK (www.bloodcancer.org.uk ).

 

This is a photo of me when I was 7 when I started to grow my hair.

 

 

 

When I was 7 years old, I read a story about a boy who grew his hair in America and donated it to a charity that makes real hair wigs. He did this because his

brother had cancer and had lost his hair due to the treatment he needed. As

soon as I read this story, I told my mum I wanted to do the same as that boy

and grow my hair for charity.

 

I had a brother who was poorly too. His name was Bobby. Sadly he died when he was a baby in 2014 when I was 2. He was in hospital for a while and then we all went to stay at Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice where he died. Here is a

picture of my brother and me.

 

 

 

I thought of Bobby when I read the story about the boy in America. I knew it

would take me a long time to grow my hair but I wanted to do it for him.

Bluebell wood is a very special place. They looked after me and my mum and

dad when Bobby died. We stayed there for 2 weeks and I can remember

playing with all the toys, scooting around the garden and jumping on the

trampoline. I also went to groups for a few years afterwards with other brothers and sisters of children who were at Bluebell wood. We did lots of cool things

like rollerskating, arts and crafts and making pizzas in a restaurant. We still go

and visit to remember Bobby every year. We all miss him very much.

 

My Nanny has a type of blood cancer called Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. She

has had this for a long time but it got worse a few years ago and she had to

have a lot of chemotherapy for 2 years. She has just finished this in April.

During the Covid pandemic she had to be really careful as she is very

vulnerable and her body would not be able to fight the virus. She and my

Grandad have not been able to see people indoors for over 2 years and

because of her chemo and covid I have not been able to hug her properly for

nearly 3 years. I really miss that as she gives the best hugs. Hopefully, when her immune system gets stronger, we can have the biggest hug ever soon.

 

 

 

 

I thought Nanny might lose her hair when she had her treatment, which made me even more determined to grow my hair for the Little Princess Trust. They

make real hair wigs for people who need them. It also made me think about

wanting to help people like my nanny, which is why I want to raise money for

the charity Blood Cancer UK.

 

I'm nearly 11 now and the time has now come for me to have my hair cut on

Tuesday 21st June. I have grown 14 inches of hair to donate. Here is a picture of me and my hair now.

 

 

 

 

 

Over the years just a few people have been a bit unkind and called me names

but most people have been really lovely and supported me. I have been

mistaken for a girl many many times. I don't really mind that, it makes me laugh and I often don't tell people any different. I have enjoyed growing my hair and

actually quite like it long now, it will be really weird not having it anymore!

 

I would be really grateful if you are able to donate what you can to these two

charities. It would mean such a lot to me and to everyone they help.

 

Thank you very much for reading my story.

 

THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY RAISED WILL BE DONATED AND SPLIT EQUALLY BETWEEN THE 2 CHARITIES