TWO girls who lost their mother to cancer have raised thousands of pounds for a charity set up in her memory by cutting off their hair.

Elise Reed, nine and little sister Annie, six, have raised an incredible £2,482 for the charity, Wendy’s Wish, which was created in memory of their mum, Wendy Reed. She died in January this year, five years after being diagnosed with eye cancer.

The two sisters and their family, from Northallerton, staged a fundraising evening, The Big Cut, at Northallerton Methodist Church on April 7, when they had several inches of their hair cut off, which they sent to the Little Princess Trust to make wigs for children who have lost their hair.

Wendy’s Wish was set up by Mrs Reed’s husband, David and her parents, Jill and Bill Harker and family friend Sam Rainbow, to raise money for the Eye Tumour Research Fund.

It was set up before Mrs Reed, 38, died. She was informed by medics in November 2016 that the cancer was terminal and nothing more could be done.

In the nine to ten weeks Mrs Reed had left with her family, they came up with the idea of the charity.

Jill Harker, who worked as a teaching assistant at Romanby Primary School before retiring, said originally only Elise was going to have her hair cut, but her younger sister Annie decided would like to join her. She said both girls were now thrilled with their new look.

“Elise was joined by her little sister, Annie, who decided the week before that she would also like her hair cutting to donate to the Little Princess Trust and so she could “help to raise money for mummy’s charity,” she said.

“Prior to the event we received donations totalling £1,000 and, on the night, around 200 people turned up to support us and we raised a further £1,200.

“We have had further donations since Friday and our total currently stands at £2,482, which is way beyond anything we could have envisaged.

“We had various stalls at the coffee evening and we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped to make the evening such a success by helping at the event and by being so generous with their donations.”

People have come forward to stage other fundraising events in the coming months. Later this year there will also be a White Tie and Diamonds Ball at Tennants Auctioneers in Leyburn on Saturday, October 21 to raise money for the charity.

For more information visit; wendyswish.co.uk.