Sacrificed tresses to let others feel pretty
MYA Hanna is only five, but she's already doing something very special with the help of her mum and inspiring others to join in.
Mya's mother Renee said her daughter wanted to cut her long hair. But, since she was rather attached to it, because it was long, straight and pretty, she thought it would be a shame not to share with someone who could be blessed with it.
"I researched to find out if they accept hair donations so children with cancer can have wigs," Renee said.
"I found a condition where children lose their hair permanently. Sometimes it grows back but most times that falls out as well.
"This condition is called Alopecia areata. So I found the Australian foundation and they accept hair donations.
"The foundation sells the hair to a wig manufacturer, then the foundation buys the wig back and gives it free to someone suffering this condition.
"I guess kids normally just go, 'Oh, cut it' but I said to Mya, 'there are these little girls who lose their hair' and she was like, 'Oh, my gosh, I couldn't imagine not having any hair'."
Mya had her hair cut last week at a hairdresser at Collingwood Park.
"She has also inspired a few other little girls to cut their hair as well," Renee said.
"Her sister is turning seven next week and she's cutting her hair and so is her cousin, Abby, who is also turning seven.
"They both have hair about as long as Mya's.
"Abby's is blond and Zoe's is brown and curly and they are going to cut their hair, too.
"She was saying there's a couple of girls at school who are going to cut their hair, too."
To donate go to makingadifference.gofundraise.com.au/page/HannaR.
For more information about Alopecia areata see aaaf.org.au.
