Derbyshire mum to lose locks to aid poorly kids

Helen, pictured with her husband Stephen and daughter Leigha, holding a picture of her late son Jack.

Helen Ayre will have about nine inches of her hair cut off for the Little Princess Trust.

The charity provides real-hair wigs to boys and girls across the UK and Ireland who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment.

Helen, 35, will also be raising money for the neonatal unit at Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) in Nottingham.

Medics there spent 14 hours treating Helen’s “beautiful” son Jack, who was born by emergency caesarean section in 2006, for perinatal asphyxia.

Helen and her husband had to make the heartbreaking decision to take him off his life support machine.

Helen, of Coronation Street, Wessington, said: “We are so grateful for everything that the doctors did for Jack but sadly it wasn’t enough.

“Every penny counts towards saving more poorly babies.”

She added: “I also want to help the Little Princess Trust because as a mother I couldn’t imagine having to go through the ordeal of having a child lose their hair after suffering with an illness.”

The charity haircut will take place at Headroom Hair, in New Street, Alfreton, on March 27.

Helen hopes to raise £500 for the QMC’s neonatal unit. If you would like to donate, visit www.justgiving.com/HelenFreemanAyre

Helen said: “If we make it to the £500 mark by the time I have my hair cut, an old school friend will add £200 to the pot.”

For more information about the Little Princess Trust, visit www.littleprincesses.org.uk