Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

 

On the 23rd of February I am getting my hair cut off to support Cancer Research UK! I know people may think it’s only a little thing as lots of people have shorter styled hair, but I would never dream of getting it cut if it didn’t affect so many people so close to home. I have had long hair the whole of my life, and I’m showing support by giving up something I fuss over for hours on end and which means a lot to me.

My mum was diagnosed with breast cancer in early December, and people really can’t imagine how hard cancer is to deal with till it affects your own family. She had a tumour removed in January and had a second operation on the 26th Jan. We have just found out that she has to have chemotherapy, which will make her lose her own long hair. After that she has radiotherapy, then Herceptin for a year and hormone therapy for five years. I had said even before we knew if she did have to have chemo that I would cut my hair for her if she had to lose hers, and this is me going through with my promise.

This isn’t just about breast cancer and my family’s story; it’s about all sorts of cancer. Even just the words 'Cancer' can make you feel ill. It’s about raising awareness to people that even if you can’t give them medical help like the doctors can, that just supporting them means more than the world to them. It’s about everyone sticking together when times are hard.

I'm hoping that people will find it in their heart to donate money and sponsor me when I cut my hair to help support those families and individuals out there, and not only just pay for them to have the life-saving treatments cancer patients need, but to pay for them to get a few hours of normality just having people there for them to talk to. I'm also donating my hair to a charity called The Little Princess Trust, which is a charity that collects donations of long hair and makes wigs for children who have lost their hair because of chemo or other reasons. Mum is also sending her own hair to Little Princesses, seeing as she can't keep it on her head!

Any people that go to my school, I should be doing some fundraising there but anyone else if you would like to donate anything, this is my Justgiving account. I will also be entering the Race for Life in June with my mum and little sister, so watch out for that later.

If you have taken the time you read this then thank you so much, and if you are choosing to donate and sponsor then I and all the other families out there thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Thank you very much, and a massive good luck to anyone out there battling cancer too.

  

Finally, my mum wanted to add that you should make sure your female relatives of all ages check their breasts for anything unusual, not just lumps, and go to their GP if they spot anything. If they’re over 50 they will also receive a letter inviting them for a mammogram – don’t let them just chuck the letter in the bin but book the appointment and get checked.
46,000 women a year are diagnosed with this disease, and the earlier it’s identified, the more treatable it is.

Breast cancer care: http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/

Cancer research UK: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/?gclid=CIatpZXW2KYCFYIlfAod_grLOQ

 

Little Princesses Trust: http://www.littleprincesses.org.uk/

 

Ellie's hair-raiser Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=181113791929350