Author:LAUREN GREEN Date: 9/02/2009 12:00:00 AM

Source -  LAUREN GREEN -  Manning River Times
Printed in paper on 15/10/2008 9:00:00 AM

A YOUNG Krambach girl has made a big difference to another person's life by donating her hair to the Princess Charlotte Alopecia Foundation.

Nine-year-old Shayla Mancell has always had long hair but wanted to cut it this year because she really felt the heat last summer.

After talking to her mum Beth, they decided the hair would be donated to the alopecia foundation, which onsells the hair to wig manufacturers who make wigs for medical hair loss, and use the funds to buy wigs for people who can't afford them.

Shayla's hair was down to her waist before the cut (done by hairdresser Sally Murray at Nik's Cutting Edge, Taree) and she admitted she was feeling 'good and sad at the same time'. Afterwards her hair was still shoulder length.

Not just any hair can be donated for a wig. It needs to be a minimum of 30cm long and should not be permanently coloured (hair with a rinse or tint is okay), and not permed.

The Princess Charlotte Alopecia Foundation was set up by former Taree man and rugby league player Matt Adamson after his daughter Charlotte developed alopecia and lost her hair.

According to the foundation's webite, donating hair that can be made into a wig for someone who really needs it can give those people a feeling of having their hair back, confidence, a return of self-esteem and a chance to be 'just like everyone else'.

The Princess Charlotte Alopecia Foundation has established an outlet for the donation of hair in Australia and New Zealand.

To find out more head to the foundation's website www.princesscharlottealopecia.com and click on the Tresses for Princesses link.