by Alan Jacques
TWO young Limerick girls have parted with their long flowing locks in aid of the Rapunzel Foundation.
The organisation works to increase the supply of high quality untreated human hair, which is used in the manufacture of wigs for people with alopecia and long term hair loss.
After learning about the charity, eight and ten-year-old sisters Caoimhe and Saoirse Culhane-Keogh from Dooradoyle decided to donate their hair. The young Ed Sheeran fans had been growing their hair long for the last two years and normally only ever had their locks trimmed to keep it shiny and healthy.
This month they took the bold step of visiting Bellissimo Hair Salon to get their charity haircuts. Their stylishly and drastically shorter new look was harder for mum Irene to get used to than it was her two daughters.
“They are thick as thieves the pair of them. I knew they would be more grown-up looking with their hair cut short and I wanted to try and keep them at the stage they were at for a bit longer,” Irene admitted.
“It was no problem to the two girls, once they heard about the charity and decided they were doing it, that was it. Saoirse’s hair was so thick, the hairdresser had to get a bigger scissors. Their friends at school were a bit shocked but they are happy and at least they are now spending less time in the shower,” she said.
Pupils and teachers at Gaelscoil an Ràithìn, where the two sisters go to school, also rallied around to help them raise funds for the Rapunzel Foundation and so far €500 has been collected.
According to the Foundation, natural-looking wigs can help restore self-confidence often lost after developing alopecia. For more details visit www.rapunzelfoundation.com.
