A THOUGHTFUL youngster has given his hair the chop to create wigs for cancer patients.
Alfie Prior, a pupil at Lewes Old Grammar Junior School, has spent the last year growing his hair after being unable to visit the hairdressers due to Covid-19 restrictions.
The 10-year-old has turned this experience into a positive and has donated eight inches of his blonde locks to the Little Princess Trust, a charity that makes wigs from actual hair for young people with cancer.
The charity encourages people to grow their hair to at least 12 inches before getting it trimmed - Alfie made the cut by one inch as they cannot use hair less than seven inches long.
Alfie's mum, Nicki Prior from Hassocks, said: "Alfie was already aware of the effects of cancer because he knew my husband Dan's mum had suffered from it in the past and then my auntie also, during the lockdown.
"He saw an advert on the TV showing a children's cancer charity, and he immediately wanted to help. I told him about the Little Princess Trust, and he was adamant that he wanted to grow his hair to give it to them."
Alfie also used the opportunity to set up a JustGiving page for Macmillan Cancer Support and managed to raise £665, beating his original target of £250.
Macmillian also has a close connection to Alfie, the charity helped his grandma Judy, and his great aunt fight off breast cancer in recent years.
Nicki said: "They were great support for both Judy and my auntie, providing a quiet presence but always at the of the phone. They supplied lots of background information and advice on aspects like finance, claiming benefits, peripheral needs like transport for treatments and appointments, and emotional stuff.
"They were also so helpful about things like hair loss, wigs and alternatives like hats and scarves. They gave us confidence and warnings about what dramatic and sudden changes we were to expect.
"Dan and I could not be prouder of Alfie. It humbles us that a boy so young thought of others he could help during the lockdown."
Support Alfie's fundraising for Macmillan: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/alfieprior
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