She had lost all her hair. And I didn't realise until she posted about it on Instagram in 2020. We've been friends for around 15 years and, like so many people with Alopecia Universalis, she hid it with expert skills. She is why I'm doing this.

www.instagram.com/kodes_accessories

Hair plays a huge role in our identities. I've been known variously as "the girl with really long hair", "curlylocks", and "mophead". When we don't have the hair we did, that literal loss can be devastating.

With my outrageously thick (and heavy!) mop of waves and curls, I hope Little Princess Trust will be able to give back some sense of identity to the children and young people who may feel that they have lost part of theirs, along with their hair.

My hair is uncut since around January 2020 (apart from a trim) with the aim of donating at least 12 inches of the curly keratin stuff. It's in its natural state of thick, long, multi-coloured, and multi-textured, so I hope it can be used in several wigs.

Now it's much longer than it would usually be, though, the weight of it is pulling down the curls so it looks more wavy than curly. My hair sadly won't be quite long enough to donate on my birthday so I'll likely have it cut around Easter 2022.

Heading to the grand old age of 40 (!), I'm asking that if you wanted to buy me a gift for my birthday to please instead give that money to this page. I don’t need things, I don’t need more stuff, and I barely have room for the things I do have!

From LPT: When a child loses their hair to cancer or another condition, we'll be there with a free, real hair wig to help restore their confidence and identity. We won't stop until the research that we fund ends childhood cancer forever. Promise.

Please visit us at www.littleprincesses.org.uk to find out how you can help us give young people back what cancer takes away.The Trust relies solely on the efforts of enthusiastic community fundraisers. We receive no formal funding. Please help to raise money for us so that we can help more families.