Theale schoolgirl loses her locks for charity

Mia Justice, who turned 14 on the day of her head shave on Monday, hopes to raise £1,000 for Cancer Research UK in memory of her grandfather, known affectionately as Grandrew, who died from a rare bone cancer in October 2009 aged 47.
“I shaved it for grandad because he died three years ago. I was quite close with him and he was really brave and I loved him,” Mia said.
“I feel Ok and I look a bit weird and my friends started crying when they saw my hair come off but it feels good because I’m a year older and I have a different look now.”
Around 50 people turned up to watch the head shave and help raise money through a cake sale at Theale village hall.
Mia, who attends Theale Green Community School, has raised nearly £500 on her justgiving page but once sponsorship from friends and money raised from the cake sale is counted, this amount could soon exceed her target.
Mia’s Mother Shelley Gore - who performed the shave - said: “I am so proud that she’s doing this because at 14 it’s all about looks and make up but she’s raising money for a good cause.
“My Step-father was a very proud man and it was a difficult time and it affected [Mia] a lot because he was the first member of the family to die when she was young but she thought that she would do something positive.”
Her locks will be bagged up and sent to the Little Princess Trust to make wigs for people who lose their hair during cancer treatment.
Mia even recevied an email from JLS band member JB who was at a Cancer Research fundraising event where one of her relatives works.
Present at the headshave was Theale Primary schoolgirl Paige Williams, aged , who is recovering from a bone marrow transplant after being diagnosed with Leukaemia in 2008.
Paige’s Mother, Becky Williams, said: “We as a family think that what Mia has done has taken courage, bravery and that the money she has raised is fantastic to further the research to treat all cancers and that some day hopefully cure and rid us of cancer for good.”
To make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/Mia-Justice