Woman’s 41-inch haircut for children’s charity

A woman has donated 41 inches (104cm) of hair to a charity which makes wigs for children with cancer and other conditions.

Louise Craig, whose hair once reached the floor, gifted her locks to The Little Princess Trust in memory of her nephew, Matthew Craig, who died from cancer. He was aged 30.

Ms Craig, who began growing her hair following Mr Craig’s death in September 2023, said her home city of Hull had been “so kind”, with the cut raising £2,000 for Dove House Hospice, which cared for him during his final weeks.

Wendy Tarplee-Morris, founder of The Little Princess Trust, said she was “so grateful” for the donation, which will “be a huge help to us and the children experiencing hair loss”.

Mr Craig spent the last three weeks of his life in the city’s Dove House Hospice after a long battle with cancer, and his family say it had been his dying wish to help others.

His mother, Jayne Waudby, said he would have been “so proud” of his aunt, with whom he shared a close relationship.

She said her son would also have enjoyed watching the haircut, adding: “He had a fab sense of humour and a contagious laugh. We are all still lost without him.”

Ms Craig singled out her factory worker husband’s workmates for their generous support.

“He has been taking donation buckets around the shop floor where they make holiday homes,” said Ms Craig.

Evie Carlton, from the hospice, joined the family to watch the hair being cut.

Ms Carlton said it was “so special” to be invited and added that the funds raised would “make it possible for other families in the city to access the care that they had”.

Ms Craig’s hair was freshly washed before the cut so that it could go straight to The Little Princess Trust and into wig-making.

The Little Princess Trust said it is “very rare” to receive such a long donation of hair.

The longest single donation of hair by a woman is 67 inches (172cm) by Ruth Tripp, as featured in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Jack Drever holds the male record after parting ways with 35 inches (89cm) of hair, also for the charity.

Ms Craig said she is “delighted” to be “up there with the longest locks they have every received”.