A kind-hearted young girl is shaving her head to raise money to help a 14-year-old family friend whose mother took her own life.
Erin Power, nine, is cutting her ten-inch brown locks to create a trust fund for Ellie following the death of 38-year-old Laura Evans in July.
The youngster, who attends Woodham Burn Primary School in Newton Aycliffe, hopes to raise enough for a memorial bench and to make a donation to Mind, the mental health charity.
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On her fundraising page, Erin, who has two older siblings, Wybie, 14, and Rain, 12, said: “Me, mummy and lots of people we love and care about lost one of the most beautiful souls we have ever known.
“Our beautiful Laura felt that life was just too much for her and she felt it was best for her to go to sleep forever.
“Laura was so kind and thoughtful to all she met, and would always put others before herself, including her beautiful 14-year-old daughter.
“I decided some time ago that I wanted to raise some money.”
The head shave is being held at her school on October 20.
Erin said: “We are also going to have some fun activities to do on the afternoon to raise as much as we can.
“My target is to raise as much as I possibly can. I understand that people don’t have a lot of money at the moment, but anything you can give would be really appreciated.
“Half of any money raised is going to go into a trust fund for Laura’s daughter until she is 18. I hope this will help her in the future when she is older.
“I would then like to organise getting a memorial bench for Laura so that people can come and spend time there to sit and think of her.
“Any money that is left I would like to donate to the mental health charity Mind.
“My hair will also be donated to The Little Princess Trust, a really lovely charity that makes wigs for children when they are really sick.”
Erin and Ellie, who is now being looked after by her auntie, know each other because their mothers were friend in Watford before she moved to the North East seven years ago.
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Erin’s mum, Krissie Newton, 36, who lives with her partner, Mark Wood, said: “We were very close and she was one of my best friends from before Erin was even born.
“Two weeks after it happened she just piped up and said she wanted to shave her hair off for Laura.
“She has got quite a bit of hair. We said: ‘Are you sure, you are not going to have any hair’.
“She said: ‘I don’t care, it’s only hair and it will grow back. It is for a good thing’.”
To support the fundraiser click here
If you are in need of support you can contact the following:
- Samaritans is available, day or night, 365 days of the year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
- If U Care Share on 0191 387 5661 or text IUCS to 85258
- SANE on 07984 967 708, Calm on 0800 58 58 58
- Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust crisis line 0800 0516 171.
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