Summer Chapman, from Welshpool, was just six years old when she decided to grow out her hair for the Little Princess Trust.

She wanted to donate her hair to be made into a wig for another girl who had lost all of hers during cancer treatment, and was borne from personal experience, as Summer’s dad Chris lost his hair too, before he died of cancer when she was just three years old.

“It’s something close to her heart,” said mum Karen.

“She’s been through a hell of a lot. It was so gutsy of her to make that decision when she was just six years old.”

Now, three years later, her long hair has finally been chopped off.

She had planned to have it cut by a hairdresser at her primary school in Guilsfield, but with lockdown restrictions in place, Karen was tasked with chopping off the 18 inches of hair.

Summer said: “It felt strange at first because I’ve had long hair for ages, but I knew I had to do something to help those in need, so it made me feel good and positive knowing it would make someone smile.”

County Times:

Summer’s dad died in January 2014, when she was three-and-a-half. She has an older brother too.

“He was able to process it more,” Karen said. “Most of Summer’s memories of her dad are of him being in hospital.

“She’s really doing her best, she’s come on leaps and bounds.

“It’s a big thing for her to do this at such an influential age, it really is. She’s not someone who likes being in the limelight but she really deserves recognition.

“I want her to remember it as an important and positive thing she did in lockdown.”

Summer can’t currently send her hair off to be made into a wig, but she will do as soon as she can.

The Little Princess Trust said on its website: “The present circumstances unfortunately mean we are currently unable to take hair donations. We really do understand just what a selfless act it is for someone to donate their hair but, during these challenging times, we are having to make changes to the way we work.”