Business owner Becky gets the chop for charity

A compassionate local business owner has decided to hack off her long flowing locks and donate it to charity, to help fund wigs for cancer patients.

Becky O'Neill, who runs the popular Busy Beans coffee in Littleborough, has decided to donate 13 inches of her hair to The Little Princess Trust, a charity dedicated to providing wigs for children and young people who have lost their hair due to cancer treatment or other medical conditions like alopecia.

 

 

The decision to donate such a significant amount of hair was not taken lightly. Becky, 34, described the experience of losing her hair as akin to "losing a part of your identity." However, she did not hesitate to proceed, driven by the desire to contribute to a cause that she holds close to her heart.

The Little Princess Trust is renowned for supplying real hair wigs free of charge to young individuals who have lost their hair. Additionally, it stands as one of the largest funders of childhood cancer research in the UK, underscoring its significant impact on both practical and scientific fronts.

Becky's initiative is not just about donating hair; she is also aiming to raise £700 for the charity through contributions to her JustGiving page.

Her inspiration comes from a personal place. "I was actually inspired by my nana," Becky told Rochdale Online News. "She donated her hair to The Little Princess Trust a few years ago, and I was so touched by it."

The journey towards this donation began with a conversation and a dare from her nana, challenging Becky to embrace her natural hair colour by stopping the dye treatments.

"After months of growing out the bleach, her hairdresser, Meg, confirmed that her hair was healthy and met the standards required for donation. With this confirmation, Becky decided to take the plunge.

Reflecting on her relationship with her hair, Becky commented: "To me, my hair was my identity.

"I used to change the colour or style with my emotions." The decision to donate was also influenced by her empathy towards friends who had lost their hair due to cancer treatments. She had witnessed first-hand the emotional and financial challenges of obtaining good-quality wigs.

"Losing that part of you, your identity, when you are already battling something so big, must be heartbreaking," Becky added. Now sporting a chic shoulder-grazing hairstyle, Becky remarked, "It's the shortest I've ever had my hair!"

To donate, visit Becky's JustGiving Page.