NINE year old Katie Ledwith has been growing her waist length hair all her life but she’s prepared to sacrifice it to help others.

But the Haresfinch St Peter’s and St Paul’s School pupil from Laffak decided to have her brown locks shorn to create wigs for youngsters.

“Katie has been growing her hair all her life, just having the occasional trim, but has been adamant she’d never get it cut,” explained her dad, Tim, a team leader at Lea Green glass cord producers NGF Europe.

Then out of the blue Katie explained to her 39 year-old father and mum, Elyse, aged 34, that she had learned about the Little Princess Trust which provides wigs for children suffering from hair loss and will be sending her precious locks to the charity to make a wig for a deserving child.

Initially Katie aimed to raise £350 in sponsorship which would cover the cost of creating the wig but already her ‘just giving’ page donations are heading towards three times that figure.

Tim’s workmates at NGFE, Elyse’s colleagues at St Helens Council along with friends and family have generously backed Katie’s commitment.

The scissor work which involves removing 35cms from her flowing locks was entrusted to Katie’s dad’s cousin, Jill Ledwith, from Hair Zone of Chain Lane shopping centre.

“We’re so proud of Katie. It is all her own doing. This is a big deal for her as she loves having long hair,” said her loving parents.