Brave Exeter Lecturer cuts hair off for children’s charity

A Senior Lecturer at the University of Exeter Medical School, who is due to undergo chemotherapy, has cut off her long hair in aid of a children’s cancer charity close to her heart.

Dr Rachel Palfrey, 46, from Plymouth, has donated 30cms of her hair to the Little Princess Trust – a charity which provides real-hair wigs for children who have lost their hair due to the effects of chemotherapy and other illnesses.

Dr Palfrey was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in October of this year, and will be starting chemotherapy within the next few weeks.

She said: “I have had very long hair for most of my life and the chemo will dramatically change this. To make my treatment as positive as possible and to help others, I have decided to donate my hair to the Little Princess Trust. It costs the charity on average around £350 to £500 to provide a child with a wig, so the money I raise will go to them. This is very important to me and I would really like my treatment to mean something.”

Monica Glass, Charity Manager at the Little Princess Trust, said: “It is truly inspiring that Rachel is thinking of others despite everything that she is going through in her own life, and we feel honoured that she has chosen to support the Little Princess Trust. We receive messages on a daily basis from people that we have helped, telling us of the life-changing impact that the wig has had on the recipient. Thanks to Rachel and her generous supporters, another five children will benefit from this experience.”

Dr Palfrey’s charity haircut took place on Wednesday, November 15, at Halo Hairdressing in Crownhill, Plymouth.

To donate to Dr Palfrey and support her inspiring act, visit Dr Palfrey’s JustGiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/drrachelpalfrey