Teenager to have her long hair cut short to make wig for child with cancer

Shannon Plant, a year ten pupil at Tottington High School, is determined to donate at least 45cm of her hair to make a wig for a child suffering from cancer.

The 15-year-old, of Canterbury Drive, has been growing her hair since around the age of eight and will face the scissors at Antony for Hair Partnership in Bury this Saturday.

Shannon, whose mum Clair styles her hair in intricate designs, is looking forward to showing off a sophisticated new chin-length bob to her friends.

She will donate her hair to the Little Princess Trust and also wants to raise at least £350 in sponsorship – the cost of making one of the bespoke wigs.

Shannon said: “I just decided that now was the time for a change.

“My hair is always getting in the way and is too long to style properly now. Ever since I started growing my hair I wanted to eventually donate it to the Little Princess Trust after reading about someone else doing that years ago.

“I’m not really nervous. I just want it cut now and am excited to have the chop.

“But everyone at school will be so shocked as they’ve always seen me with long hair.”

Shannon has already collected sponsorship from members of staff at Tesco in Bury, from friends at school and from Moorfield retirement home in Radcliffe.

Antony for Hair has pledged to cut Shannon’s hair for free and mum Clair said she will donate what it would have cost to the charity.

Clair added: “Shannon began growing her hair when she was in year five and always said that when she got it cut she would like it to help raise money for charity.

“The years went by and she never had anything more than a trim, but now the time has come and she wants a change.

“The Little Princess Trust is perfect because it helps young children suffering from cancer.

“Shannon is a really good kid. She also volunteers for animal charity the PDSA at their shop in Bury.”

To make a donation: go to justgiving.com/ShannonPlant.