Lola Collins cuts hair to help mum raise money for Maggie’s Cancer Care

Lola before and after her haircut

Lola Collins has cut her hair in order to help her mum, Sally-Ann Collins, raise funds for Maggie’s Cancer Care centres.

Sally-Ann, from Heywood, will be running the Virgin London Marathon in April this year to raise £3,000 in memory of Charley Findlay from Rochdale, who died aged 29 from an aggressive form of cancer on 12 June, just 10 days after her wedding.

Sally-Ann said: “Anyone who knew Charley knows her famous fighting spirit and her ever-present smile even through the pain.

“There is a hashtag – #bemorecharley – that inspires all of us to live each day that bit more, and with that in mind back in June, I crazily applied to be on the Maggie’s Centres London Marathon team for 2018.

“I was offered a place on their team in October to run in Charley’s memory as her story resonated with them.”

Daughter Lola, seven, also wanted to help as in memory of both Charley, but also her grandad, who also battled cancer. He died just two days before Lola’s little sister was born in 2016.

As Lola did not have any money of her own, she asked if she could cut her hair and help other girls her age, who, in her words, “are poorly and do not have as much as she does”. 

To date, the selfless little girl has raised £265 towards her mum’s target - with her haircut by Olivia Tweedale at HK Professional.

Sally-Ann said: “It was a rollercoaster of emotions for Lola, and it had such a profound effect on her that she wanted to do something in her grandad’s and Charley’s memory.

“Obviously, we said yes and will be sending her hair to the Little Princess Trust, who make wigs for children and young people who have lost their own hair to cancer treatment or other illnesses.

“I am so proud of her for doing such a selfless act and am hoping to raise as much money through my page on the back of her actions to show her just how much impact she has had. My marathon training is a whole lot easier with her as inspiration.”

To donate, visit:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sally-collins11