A NINE-YEAR-OLD girl from North Bradley has had her long locks chopped off to raise money for CLIC Sargent, after her younger brother was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Clara Harding, who attends North Bradley Primary School, was distraught when her five-year-old brother, Luke, was diagnosed with the cancer in April and wanted to show her support.

On Thursday she braved the scissors at Scottie’s Hair Design in Trowbridge and had 15 inches of her hair chopped off, which she sent to the Little Princess Trust, and in the process raised a staggering £1,100 for CLIC Sargent.

Mum Anna, of College Gardens, North Bradley, said: “Clara and Luke have such a strong bond and it shows with how caring and loving she has been and how important it was for her to raise money. They are best friends.

“My husband Richard and I were incredibly proud when she came to us with the idea. She was itching to have it done but we told her to wait a little longer so her hair would grow longer and she would have more to donate.

“After the haircut she found it really strange; she kept trying to grab her ponytail before remembering it was no longer there.

“Her classmates at school have been absolutely amazing, all donating their pocket money to help bring her up to the amazing total of £1,100.”

Mrs Harding added that it has been a really difficult period for the family since Luke’s diagnosis but he is now doing well and is in remission.

It was initially suspected that the keen swimmer, who also attends North Bradley Primary School, had meningitis but a blood test revealed it was in fact leukaemia and he was immediately transferred to Bristol Children’s Hospital.

The hair donated by Clara will be used by the trust to make wigs for children who, like Luke, are losing their hair as a result of cancer treatment.

In April Mr Harding, 44, an events manager for Searcy's at the Pump Rooms in Bath, is going to run the Southampton Marathon to raise more money for CLIC Sargent and the family is also planning to hold a coffee morning.

Mrs Harding, a student information officer at the University of Bath, added: "Rich myself and some friends and family are doing the RUH Forever Friends appeal Walk for Life, the marathon distance, in May raising money for the children's ward where we have spent so much time."

James McDonald, fundraising manager for CLIC Sargent, said: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to Clara for taking on this brave challenge and becoming a real ‘life-shaver’ for young people with cancer. We rely entirely on donations to fund our vital work and so we can’t thank Clara enough for her fantastic effort.

“Every day 11 children and young people like Luke will hear the devastating news they have cancer. Many will lose their hair during treatment and our Big Buzz campaign gives you the chance to show support for them by shaving your head and raising vital funds for CLIC Sargent.”

For more information about CLIC Sargent’s Big Buzz campaign go to www.clicsargent.org.uk/bigbuzz

To donate of Clara's appeal go to https://www.justgiving.com/clarasbob?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=fundraisingpage&utm_content=clarasbob&utm_campaign=pfp-share