A YOUNGSTER from Hexham has raised more than £2,000 for charity after having her long locks shaved off.

Twelve-year-old Eve Cunningham donated her hair to the Little Princess Trust, with the money raised going to Marie Curie.

She decided to raise money for the charity after her family friend, Graeme Armstrong, died from cancer in 2016, spending his final weeks at a Marie Curie Hospice.

She has been further motivated by the fact that cancer patients have suffered delays in diagnosis and treatment during the coronavirus pandemic.

Eve said: “A few years ago we lost Graeme, a very close family friend, to cancer.

“I will never forget him because he was the most caring and memorable person you would ever meet.

“Graeme spent his final weeks in at the Marie Curie hospice in Newcastle and I feel that it is my duty to give back to them so they can help all the people who need it.

“I’ll be donating my hair to The Princess Trust who make wigs from real hair for cancer patients or people with alopecia.

“It has been a difficult few months, hearing about the coronavirus pandemic and people missing out cancer diagnoses and treatment, so I hope my head shave raises lots of money for Marie Curie and brings people a positive story in gloomy times.

“If you can, please donate to my Just Giving page. Thank you.”

Marie Curie has thanked Eve for her efforts. Donations can be made to Eve’s campaign at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/evecunninghamheadshave.