BT’s Abbie makes the cut for charity

BT apprentice Abbie Hooper has been growing her hair for four years – just so she can have it cut off to make a wig for charity.

As a teenager, Abbie who now works in finance for BT in Bristol, had a job washing hair at her local hairdresser. She watched as some customers had their long locks chopped so they could donate it to the Little Princess Trust.

The charity turns hair donations into real wigs. They’re given free to boys and girls in the UK and Ireland who’ve lost their own hair through cancer and other illnesses.

Abbie says: “The hair needs to be at least 12 inches for a long wig for a little girl. That’s what I decided to aim for.”

Four years later – with regular trims to keep her locks in great condition – colleagues gathered to watch the big snip.

Her other target was to raise £500 – half for the Little Princess Trust, to be sent with her donated hair; and half for cancer charity CLIC Sargent.

After dividing her hair into three plaits, it took half an hour for the scissors to cut and style her hip-length locks into a long bob. And, with colleagues supporting her with cake baking and sales and a bucket collection, she’s exceeded her fundraising goal.

“It feels weird,” says Abbie. “I can’t get used to it, but I’m not too sad, knowing where it’s going.

“And on the plus side, it will be so much quicker to wash and dry now.”