Jemimah's Big Chop

I’m about to turn 17, I have chopped my hair and need your help!

I have been dreaming about the big chop for as long as I can remember. I had a pattern where l would grow my hair for about 2 years and then cut it short and keep cutting it for a year and then start all over again. One day I heard about people growing their hair and then cutting it short and donating it to a charity like wigs for kids. That’s when I realised that I wanted to donate my hair. So from about the age of 9 l started growing my hair. I was dedicated to my mission and wasn’t going to cut it for anything, except trims of course. About 2½ years later someone kicked a basketball into the back of my head and because I have brittle bones this was bad. I had to cut my hair short so there was no extra weight on my neck. I was shattered because my hair wasn’t quite long enough to donate. 

 When I was about 13 I decided that it was time for me to start to grow it out again. I have been growing my hair ever since. I went through some rough patches where we thought l might have to cut it short because of severe matts from being in a hospital bed for months at a time. But we managed to save my hair after 20 hours of hard work. About 9 months later and it was finally time to cut off my hair. I am so happy. But the thing is l wish I could do more. When I was filling in the form to donate my hair something popped up that said it’s not too late to raise money for my big chop. I was over the moon, as I thought this is my chance to really help someone in need. I have been on the receiving end of this kind of thing and it changed my life. 

 This is my chance (and maybe even yours) to make a difference in someone’s life. A saying popped into my head “see a need fill a need” and that’s exactly what I’m trying to do. But the thing is I can’t do it alone, I need some help! I am trying to raise 2500 dollars which all goes to the foundation variety-hair with heart. The same place where my hair is going to be donated and made into a wig for someone less fortunate than me that doesn’t have the availability to have hair.

 So I am asking if you will help me to help someone else. Anything would help even a few dollars because if enough people chip in and donate just a few dollars it all adds up and could dramatically change someone’s life!

 I have chopped 45 cm of my hair off that will be donated.

 Wigs cost families up to $6,000, lasting 1-2 years, meaning families can spend tens of thousands of dollars on the purchase of wigs throughout a child’s youth. By donating to Variety - the Children's Charity, you can help provide a wig or other vital equipment to a child in need.