A TULLIBODY woman had 19 inches of hair chopped off for charity at the weekend.

Sharon Merrilees decided to cut her locks and donate them to The Little Princess Trust, after seeing her little cousin Ashlee Easton battle cancer.

In addition, she also set about raising money for the youngster's named fund of Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group and has been given more than £2000 in donations.

The 32-year-old received her new hairstyle from Peter Grey at Rucci Hair on Saturday and, despite being a little nervous beforehand, absolutely loves her new look.

The whole weekend was an "emotional whirlwind" and she is "utterly gobsmacked" with the current total from her Loot for Locks campaign – £2299.38.

She said: "It was an honour to have my wee cousin Ashlee cut the plaits live on Facebook, after all it was Ashlee that inspired me to do this in the first place after seeing her lose her lovely hair twice now.

"She done an excellent job and loved doing the honours.

"The broadcast went live at 16.25pm so everyone was eagerly watching in.

"I was on such a high all day as donations were coming in thick and fast, it was unbelievable."

In February 2013, Ashlee, then aged six, started complaining about a pain.

Initially, it was a suspected food intolerance or pulled muscle, however tests would go on to show she actually had stage four neuroblastoma.

After two years of treatment the Falkirk youngster was disease free, but in July last year routine scans showed a relapse.

Since then, she had MIBG therapy in London in October which she responded well to and has yet again started to get her hair back.

Sharon started her fundraiser in a bid to collect a few hundred pounds and to raise awareness about her cousin's appeal, but has been blown away by how it has been received.

She said: "People keep showering me with kind words and praise, I've even been given lovely presents and cards, I really am completely overwhelmed by it all.

"Personally, I think it should be the other way around – I should be thanking and praising them as without their support, donations and kindness this whole 'Loot for Locks' would never have been such a success.

"Friends have even had dress down days at work, complete strangers have giving donations to my partner's mum because she has been talking about it at her work, and not to mention my partner and friends rallying round their workplace with sponsor sheets, this is only just a few examples.

"The support we have received has been incredible – from the bottom of our hearts, thank you."

Since Ashlee's Neuroblastoma Appeal was started in October 2016, £10,000 has been raised through various events which will help fund vital research for better cancer treatments to children in the UK.

Family and supporters are looking forward to adding to that total with a few more activities and will be doing a bag pack in Tesco Redding on Saturday, May 6, while Saturday, May 13 will bring a charity disco at Lodge Zetland in Grangemouth. 

If anyone would like to help raise funds for the appeal, pease visit cclg.org/AshleesNeuroblastomaAppeal or email ashleesneuroblastomaappeal@virginmedia.com 

Donations can still be made to Loot for Locks until the end of May, at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SharonMerrilees