The Little Princess Trust is a charity based in Hereford, supplying real hair wigs free of charge to children and young people who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment and other medical conditions.
Started in 2006 in memory of 5-year-old Hannah Tarplee who sadly lost her own battle with cancer the previous year, the charity helps those with cancer - up to the age of 24 - with as many wigs as necessary for the duration of their treatment and hair loss. For those aged up to 24 with hair loss due to other conditions the charity also provides free wigs when possible, to help with the associated trauma.
Since its inception, the Trust has given away 10000 wigs; a number which increases every day. The charity also funds research into the provision of innovative and less aggressive and less toxic childhood cancer treatments.
The Trust receives thousands of donations of good condition hair from all over the world, which are then used to make wigs. Around 14 hair donations are required to make a single wig. Although the charity can accept a minimum hair donation of 7”/17cm in length, the greatest demand is for hair that is over 12”/30cm which will naturally make much longer wigs.
From receiving hair donations at our office, through to fitting and styling a bespoke wig, it costs the charity from £550 to provide a real-hair wig free-of-charge, to our wig recipients. We currently supply over 150 wigs every month. The Little Princess Trust needs financial donations as well as hair donations, in order to fund the actual manufacturing of the wigs and wig-fitting service.