Walton girl cuts hair to raise money for hospice which cared for her grandmother

Iris Hayes, five, decided to raise money for the Princess Alice Hospice in Esher which cared for her grandma Wendy, who died at home earlier this summer.

The Walton girl had already decided she wanted to have her hair cut like her mum Amber’s - a sleek bob - and donate her tresses to The Little Princess Trust, a charity which makes real hair wigs for children who lose theirs through illness.

Her brother Tom, seven, had heard that people did fundraising for the hospice and mentioned it to his family.

Combining the hair donation with sponsorship, Iris’s efforts raised £2,070. Her hair was put into five foot-long plaits, then cut and styled into a bob, by Toni and Guy at Walton - who waived their fee for the occasion.

Amber said: “She wasn’t nervous at all - I think it was worse for me.

“People have been very generous with donations. It’s been really overwhelming.”

Iris has since visited the hospice with Tom, Amber and grandad Lawrence.

They spoke of the family’s gratitude for the care given to Wendy.

“The nurses who came out to mum were incredible," Amber added.

"Their kindness was on another level.

"They looked after us and made sure we were doing OK as a family too."

The first day back at Ashley Primary School, Iris turned heads with her new style.

She says her next fundraising event will be a marathon cycle ride with her dad Matt and Brother Tom - from London back to the family home. She’s hoping this will be her 2020 challenge.