CARING cousins from Erskine waved goodbye to their long blonde locks as they donated a combined 14 inches of hair to charity in memory of their aunt.

Bella Steven and Mollie Watson braved the chop to mark the 14th anniversary since Johanna MacVicar died after losing her battle with chronic myeloid leukaemia at the age of 27.

Mollie and Bella, who are eight and nine respectively, never met their aunt but were inspired to raise awareness of the disease and drum up funds for the charity Rainbow Valley, which was set up in her honour, by donating seven inches of their hair each to the Little Princess Trust.

“I never got to meet my auntie Jo but my mummy tells me stories about her all the time,” said Mollie. “I know my auntie Jo was very brave and I wanted to do something special.

“I loved my long hair but, if I can help someone and make them feel a bit better while raising money for Rainbow Valley, then it will make me happy.”
The girls, along with their eight-year-old pal Sophie, had their hair cut at the Smith & Smith salon, in Erskine, on Friday.

The Little Princess Trust will use the girls’ locks to provide free real-hair wigs to children and young people, aged up to 24, who have lost their own through cancer treatment or other conditions.

Susan Smith, from Smith & Smith, said: “As an old friend of Johanna and the MacVicar family, I am honoured to help out her nieces with their fundraising and hair donation.

“It’s amazing that, 14 years after Johanna’s death, the newest generation of her family are still pursuing her vision through Rainbow Valley – and not only that, they are helping other charities too.”

Johanna believed diet, stress, exercise and complementary therapies all influenced her health and quality of life with cancer, and Rainbow Valley aims to get people living with cancer leading positive lifestyles by offering free courses on exercise, nutrition, stress management and meditation.

Angela MacVicar, chair of Rainbow Valley, said: “Johanna would have loved her nieces and nephew so much and knowing her death has influenced them to do something that has such a positive impact is incredible.”
To donate, visit https://give.everydayhero.com/uk/mollie-bella-get-the-chop