Abbie Lawrence is having her hair chopped off and donating it to the charity Little Princess Trust which makes wigs out of real hair for children who have lost theirs through chemotherapy.

It wasn’t an easy decision for the 13-year-old to make though as she suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome – a form of autism which makes it difficult for her to deal with change.

Mum Chris said: “She came up with the idea about three months ago.

“We lost my sister Melinda Payton to skin cancer in 2008, aged 46, and her uncle Geoff was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma and testicular cancer in January last year at the age of 51. After undergoing chemotherapy he has been in remission since September but she decided she wanted to help children.

“When I set up her online page I pointed out that once someone had donated there was no turning back.

“Her hair measures 14 inches from her neck down and she’s donating 10 inches. I’m very proud of her because when she has it cut she only wants the ends off.”

The Highsted Grammar School student, who has a twin called Charlotte, will have her locks chopped at Reflections in Chaucer Road, Sittingbourne, at 2.30pm on July 31.

Her target was £150 but that has already been smashed.

Abbie, of Iris Drive, Eden Village, Sittingbourne, said: “I am very keen on doing things for charity and it is something I have done since I was little so I am excited to make a change to someone’s life when they aren’t as lucky as the rest of us.”

To make a donation visit https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/abbielawrence1