A LITTLE girl with a big heart and long locks will make a bold change in the coming weeks, donating her hair for use in wigs provided to children who lose their hair due to a medical condition.
Seven-year-old Mount Gambier girl Matilda Spencer will cut off 38cm of hair next week to donate to Variety Australia’s Hair for Heart program.
Matilda has grown her hair out for the last 18 months after watching a contestant on popular reality show Ninja Warrior speak about their experience with alopecia, a disease which causes significant hair loss.
As well as leaving her hair uncut, Matilda and her mother Liz have been fundraising for Hair for Heart, having already reached their $500 goal.
The campaign has now transformed the June 24 haircut into a community fundraiser hosted by Limestone Coast Pantry, which has created a special baked potato on its menu with $1 from each sale going to the cause.
Matilda hoped her donation would help those who may feel self conscious or upset if they looked or felt different.
“It’s not their fault so I wanted to do something kind to show people can always choose to be kind to people, especially if they are having a hard time for something that’s not their fault,” she said.
“Whenever we have been brushing or shampooing or conditioning my hair mum and I have been talking about how we are taking care of it for the little girl who will have it as a wig and how we are looking after it for her.”
Hopeful the broader community would support her cause, Matilda also urged residents to consider donating money or their own hair to Hair for Heart.
“We want the community to come on the day and have them know I am doing it for a good cause,” she said.
Matilda will cut her hair to above-shoulder length at the Limestone Coast Pantry from 4.30pm on June 24.
Visit hairwithheart.variety.org.au fundraisers/matildaspencer to donate.
