AGXStarseed
Well-Known Member
(Not written by me)
A COURAGEOUS schoolboy has spent a year growing his hair long so it can be made into wigs for cancer patients following the death of a family friend.
Tom Wakelin told his family he wanted to leave his hair to grow following the death of 14-year-old Ben Sambrook who had benefitted from a Little Princess Trust wig while undergoing radiotherapy.
The 11-year-old, who has Asperger's and autism, has faced a few negative comments for his long hair but his mother Amanda said the vast majority of people have been hugely supportive of his decision.
Friends have nicknamed him "rock star" and "The Fonz" for his shoulder length hair but he will undergo a drastic haircut on Wednesday, September 2 to donate it to the Little Princess Trust.
And after a year of long hair, the former Northwick Manor Primary School pupil is looking forward to a shorter, styled haircut.
Mrs Wakelin said they wanted to get his haircut before he started at Blessed Edward's Oldcorne Catholic College in September.
"We had a family friend who was diagnosed with a brain tumour at six and passed away when he was just 14 and during this time he had a lot of radiotherapy and lost his hair.
"He wasn't bothered about it when he was little but when he came to high school he was concerned and he got a hair piece from Little Princess Trust which was fantastic.
"When Ben passed away, Tom's hair was longish and it was about time for him to get it cut but he said he was going to grow it because he wanted to be able to raise money for charity in memory of Ben, from Aldridge, Walsall.
"Then he mentioned donating the hair to the Little Princess Trust.
"People have been really moved when we have told them why he was growing it.
"When we made an announcement at a party, one man came up to me with tears in his eyes and handed over £15 straightaway."
Tom will be raising money for Brain Tumour Support through his online donation page and hopes to raise £500.
The schoolboy said: "I'm excited to be able to raise money for the Brain Tumour Support and to donate my hair to Little Princess Trust.
"I decided to do it because I want to help other people with brain tumours and in memory of Ben."
Tom will be having about eight inches cut off his hair at his home in Northwick Road by Maria Grainger, a lecturer at the Heart of Worcestershire college.
His mum continued: "He has moaned about a couple of comments he's had and a couple of people thought he was a girl while we were on holiday which he thought was funny.
"His friends have nicknamed him The Fonz and Rock Star but it isn't meant nastily.
"But to be honest, because he has Asperger's and autism he gets very fixated on things so once he decided to do it he was determined.
"It is beginning to irritate him now though and he said it was too long and it was time to cut it off.
"We're all really proud of him."
To donate, log on to justgiving.com/Amanda-Wakelin.
SOURCE: http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news...following_death_of_14_year_old_family_friend/
A COURAGEOUS schoolboy has spent a year growing his hair long so it can be made into wigs for cancer patients following the death of a family friend.
Tom Wakelin told his family he wanted to leave his hair to grow following the death of 14-year-old Ben Sambrook who had benefitted from a Little Princess Trust wig while undergoing radiotherapy.
The 11-year-old, who has Asperger's and autism, has faced a few negative comments for his long hair but his mother Amanda said the vast majority of people have been hugely supportive of his decision.
Friends have nicknamed him "rock star" and "The Fonz" for his shoulder length hair but he will undergo a drastic haircut on Wednesday, September 2 to donate it to the Little Princess Trust.
And after a year of long hair, the former Northwick Manor Primary School pupil is looking forward to a shorter, styled haircut.
Mrs Wakelin said they wanted to get his haircut before he started at Blessed Edward's Oldcorne Catholic College in September.
"We had a family friend who was diagnosed with a brain tumour at six and passed away when he was just 14 and during this time he had a lot of radiotherapy and lost his hair.
"He wasn't bothered about it when he was little but when he came to high school he was concerned and he got a hair piece from Little Princess Trust which was fantastic.
"When Ben passed away, Tom's hair was longish and it was about time for him to get it cut but he said he was going to grow it because he wanted to be able to raise money for charity in memory of Ben, from Aldridge, Walsall.
"Then he mentioned donating the hair to the Little Princess Trust.
"People have been really moved when we have told them why he was growing it.
"When we made an announcement at a party, one man came up to me with tears in his eyes and handed over £15 straightaway."
Tom will be raising money for Brain Tumour Support through his online donation page and hopes to raise £500.
The schoolboy said: "I'm excited to be able to raise money for the Brain Tumour Support and to donate my hair to Little Princess Trust.
"I decided to do it because I want to help other people with brain tumours and in memory of Ben."
Tom will be having about eight inches cut off his hair at his home in Northwick Road by Maria Grainger, a lecturer at the Heart of Worcestershire college.
His mum continued: "He has moaned about a couple of comments he's had and a couple of people thought he was a girl while we were on holiday which he thought was funny.
"His friends have nicknamed him The Fonz and Rock Star but it isn't meant nastily.
"But to be honest, because he has Asperger's and autism he gets very fixated on things so once he decided to do it he was determined.
"It is beginning to irritate him now though and he said it was too long and it was time to cut it off.
"We're all really proud of him."
To donate, log on to justgiving.com/Amanda-Wakelin.
SOURCE: http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news...following_death_of_14_year_old_family_friend/
