A young schoolgirl who overcame cancer has cut off her treasured long
hair to donate to other children still battling the disease.
Brave Erin Gallagher was just three years old when she began to
complain to her mum and dad about having a sore leg.
Within days the little Glenswilly child was diagnosed with leukemia.
After a lengthy two and a half year battle with the disease including
heavy bouts of chemotherapy, Erin, hasn’t looked back.
Now aged 10, Erin always said she wanted to give
something back to those who helped her.
This week she decided she wanted to donate her lovely hair The
Princess Trust who provide hair to make wig for young girls who whose
hair has fallen out during chemotherapy.
Cancer survivor, Erin Gallagher from Glenswilly, Co Donegal pictured at her local hairdresser, HairDos where she donated her ponytails to The Princess Trust to make wigs for Children With Cancer. Photo Brian McDaid
Accompanied by loving mum Collette, Erin attended the HairDos Hair
Salon close to her home in Churchill to have her hair cut.
Mum Collette admits that she was a little nervous when she realised
that she was to have up to eight inches of her love hair cut off.
“It’s something she said she always wanted to do. I didn’t get a wig
for Erin when she had her chemotherapy because she was only aged three
years.
“Instead we got a little bandana and she was fine. But can you imagine
if you are that little bit older – girl’s hair is everything to do
them and I think it is probably one of the most upsetting things to
lose their lovely hair,” said Collette.
Amazingly Erin found that when she had her hair cut, hairdresser Breda
Doherty estimates that the Princess trust will be able to make four
pony tails from the donated hair.
Cancer survivor, Erin Gallagher from Glenswilly, pictured at her local hairdresser, HairDos with her mother Colette. Photo Brian McDaid
Collette and husband Charlie have watched each year as Erin has left
behind her sickness and now only requires one check-up each year.
Little Erin has even found the time to become friends with a certain
Daniel O’Donnell whom she befriended at a charity cancer event ‘Relay
for Life’ some years back.
The star even has a picture of himself and little Erin on the wall in his home.
Collette reveals her only daughter now talks of becoming a nurse or
pharmacist when she gets older.
“She is a very determined young lady and I think that’s because of all
she has been through.
“To think she was so sick and I spent months on end in hospital in
Crumlin with her and look at her now. She really is a miracle child,”
said Erin’s mum proudly.
Cancer survivor, Erin Gallagher pictured at her local hairdresser, HairDos where she donated her ponytails to The Princess Trust to make wigs for Children With Cancer. Photo Brian McDaid