Seven-year-old Erin Clancy is sporting a new hairstyle and in doing so has helped other kids.
For the past few years, Erin has been growing her hair long.
Earlier this month she had that long hair cut into a bob style and donated the hair to Freedom Hair.
‘‘I felt very excited and happy. It was a new experience for me, cutting it short,” Erin said.
“People knew I was getting it done for a while and they were excited to see that I had finally had it done. They have all said they like it.”
It’s a bonus Erin also likes her new style and now doesn’t have to tie it up for school.
‘‘It’s good because its coming into summer. When I had long hair in the summer it was very hot and now it’s better and not so warm being shorter.”
Her mother, Natasha Clancy, said Erin was beaming after having her hair cut.
‘‘She has received so many compliments about how beautiful her new hair looks and that she looks more grow up now. Over the last six months, she was certainly over having long hair and couldn’t wait to have it chopped!’’
She said the Freedom Hair made wigs for a number of people, including those going through cancer treatments and those with alopecia or other medical conditions.
There were set conditions to follow, including that hair had to be longer than 35.5cm and be uncoloured and not permed.
‘‘People can receive payment for their hair; however this was not Erin’s motivation behind growing her hair for the past few years and chopping it,’’ Clancy said.
‘‘She wanted to give something to others who are less fortunate than her.’’
And Erin’s kindness didn’t stop there; she donated the money she received for her hair to a charity.
‘‘After researching the many wonderful charities we have set up in NZ, KidsCan was a cause Erin connected with and therefore she decided to donate the proceeds of her hair to them, rather than receiving the payment herself,’’ Clancy said.
Erin said she pleased her hair would benefit others; by the hair she donated and then the donation to Kids Can who she chose as a way to support kids who needed food, clothes, shoes and things for school.
‘‘I feel happy for them. I like that if kids need help, this might help them,’’ she said.
‘‘I feel good knowing it will help others who need it.”
