A?COLLEGE?student from Petersfield has had a hair-raising experience – all in the name of charity.

Caitlin Allsop decided to donate a good deal of her flowing locks to the Little Princess Trust.

The Godalming College student’s crowning glory measured an impressive 38 inches, but she wanted to donate most of it to the charity which relies on donated hair to provide specialist wigs for children who have lost their own hair due to cancer treatment or a serious illness.

So she headed to the Eden hair salon in Haslemere last Saturday to have her lovely long locks lopped.

Caitlin said: “For the past few years I have been growing out my hair, and I thought I’d take this opportunity to donate it so it can made into a wig by the Little Princess Trust, who can then gift it to a child suffering from cancer or another serious condition such as alopecia.

“As well as donating my hair, those wishing to sponsor me can donate their money to the charity as well. It can cost between £300 and £550 for the charity to purchase a wig for a child if no hair donations are available.

“My mum is a regular customer at Eden and they did my hair for my prom last year. They are also very keen to support charities, so they were the obvious choice.”

She thanked Holly and everyone at Eden for helping her to donate 19 inches of her hair to the trust and making her ‘feel confident’ with her new, shorter hair. She also thanked everyone who had donated to her JustGiving page.

Caitlin added: “I never could have imagined we would be able to raise so much, so thank you all for your generosity.”

Her precious contribution has been posted to Little Princess Trust but she would welcome further donations to help swell the total.

A Little Princess Trust spokesman said: “It’s such a brave decision to cut off a lot of hair. We are hugely grateful, as we can use Caitlin’s donated locks to make real hair wigs for children who have lost their own hair. Receiving a wig has a profoundly positive effect on those we assist. Thank you, Caitlin, and thank you to all of your supporters.”

To donate, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/caitlin-allsop.