15-YEAR-OLD Niamh McCann from Irvinestown is shaving her hair off for a cause very close to her heart.
Like singer Jessie J, who shaved her hair off for Comic Relief – the Mount Lourdes student is raising money for her young cousin, Donal Parsons, who has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, stage 4 neuroblastoma.
Donal, who is six, lives in County Sligo, and is currently undergoing 18 months of intensive treatment at Our Lady’s Children’s hospital, Dublin.
And Niamh has taken the decision to do her part by shaving off her hair.
“When I was in second year I did a sponsored silence for Marie Curie because I’ve had a few people close to me who died from cancer. I’ve been so interested in fundraising,” explained Niamh.
“The trust was set up for Donal and I thought it was the prime opportunity to do something like this.”
Niamh posted her idea on to Facebook several days ago and has been inundated with replies.
She was even handed £5 as she walked down the corridor at school on Monday.
“There have been a lot of people commenting,” Niamh went on, “With the reactions that I’ve got, I’m really more excited than nervous.”
Hoping to raise between five and ten thousand, Niamh is to hold a concert to coincide with her hair shave.
For more information you can see donalparsonstrust.com, where you can keep up to date on Niamh’s plans and on other fundraising going on for Donal.
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