Olivia’s new look is for a great cause

A 12-year-old girl from Annan has proved she’s a cut above the rest after cutting off her long locks for charity.

Olivia Bicket had been growing her hair out for the past year and decided to get it cut in aid of The Little Princess Trust, a charity that provides real hair wigs, free of charge, to children and young people who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment or to other conditions such as alopecia.

The idea of donating her tresses was Olivia’s and mum Mandy was happy help make it happen. She said: “She’s had long hair her whole life and she likes to hide behind it. I think she heard about the charity from one of her friends in Dumfries who had done it. She’s a determined little thing so she started taking growing her hair seriously and was wanting to do it.”

Now those efforts have more than paid off, raising £700 for the charity, which will pay for a full wig and consultation for a child in need.

The big chop was done by Amy Murchison at Ryjos salon in Eastriggs just before the start of the new school term.

With her new bob hair-do, Olivia’s friends were initially shocked by her new style when she started at Annan Academy last month.

Mandy added: “Since she’s had it cut, she’s gotten upset a couple of times, so I think she wants to grow it back out.

“Olivia’s never been one to make a fuss, her friends got a little shock when they went back to school but she just told them that she got a hair cut.

“But she’s adjusting well for someone who doesn’t like change, I’m really proud of her for raising that much money: initially she had a target of £550 so getting more than that is a real achievement. The charity gave her a t-shirt and a balloon as well so she was pleased.”