A seven-year-old boy in Trafford is cutting off his 47cm-long hair as part of a mission to raise money for two charities close to his heart and in memory of his late cousin.
Young Woody Challinor, from Urmston, has pledged to chop his hair off and donate it to the The Little Princess Trust Charity, an organisation that donates real hair wigs to children who have lost their own hair through cancer.
He will also be raising money for Kidscan, a children’s cancer research charity, which his cousin, Gracie McCall, was an ambassador for before her death at the age of five in 2017.
READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community
Gracie was diagnosed with a rare brain cancer, known as Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumour, at the age of just two, and died three years later when the cancer returned with three new tumours on her brain and spine.
Her family have continued to raise money for charities in Gracie’s name, with Woody’s mission being the latest to fundraise for the important organisation. For Woody, who has always grown his hair out, it’s a big move but a challenge he feels up to taking on.
“He’s always had long hair, it’s pretty much his signature look,” mum Lisa Murray tells the M.E.N. “He’ll often get mistaken for a girl for it but he doesn’t mind. He mentioned wanting to trim it last year as it’s starting to get a bit of a faff now.
“We knew someone else who had donated their hair to the Little Princess Trust Charity and we mentioned it to him to see how he felt about maybe doing that. He’s a really kind little boy, he’s done a couple of other fundraisers for other people before, and he said he definitely wanted to do it.
“He’s been growing it since last year just to make sure it’s long enough for the charity to use and when we measured it a couple of weeks ago, it was 47 cm long and is longer than my hair now!”
Not only will Woody, who is a pupil at Davyhulme primary school, donate his hair to the Little Princess Trust, but he is also asking for donations for Kidscan, with it being such an important charity to the family.
“My niece Gracie, my brother’s little girl, passed away six years ago and she did a lot with them,” Lisa explains. “We’ve done a few fundraisers for them before as it’s such an important charity.
“Woody only met Gracie a couple of times as she was always quite poorly, but he knows who she is and that she is a special person that means a lot to us as a family. He wants to raise money to help children and in Gracie’s name.”
The target for Woody’s fundraiser was set at £1,000 and has already surpassed beyond that in just a matter of days, which has taken everyone by surprise.
The family say they will continue to fundraise for a little bit longer before setting a date for Woody, who plays for Urmston Meadowside football team, to visit the hairdressers.
“We thought it’d take a couple of months but it’s only been a week and he’s already reached his target,” Lisa says. “He’s really pleased, he keeps looking at the page, and can’t believe how much he’s raised. He’s had donations from local businesses and teachers at his school, which has been amazing.
"He’s a little nervous to cut his hair, but wants to help children and knows it will always grow back.”
You can donate to Woody’s fundraiser here.
READ NEXT:
- Top chef sparks fierce cheeseboard debate after calling out customer for expecting 'restaurants to just give food away'
- Dad who gets his son to egg houses says he's 'doing the right thing'
- 'Stagecoach driver braked suddenly after speeding up to get through amber lights - I'm furious'
- Inside the new farm shop with play area and Sunday cookie van
- TikTok star lives up to his reputation after he's spotted in popular Manchester Chinese restaurant
