Growing his hair right down past his shoulders has meant he’s been teased, mistaken for a girl and even told off for going in the men’s toilets. But kindhearted Golborne St Thomas’s pupil Xander Eccleston was not deterred… because he was doing it for a very special reason.
Because Xander’s big plan was to have his long locks turned into a wig for a child undergoing cancer treatment – even though it was someone he will never actually meet.
Year 6 pupil Xander explained: “The thought of some other kid being so ill then also having to lose their hair as well is devastating to me. I can’t cure cancer but I can do this little thing to make one kid feel a bit better about themselves and make them smile.”
This really inspirational boy has been so determined to do this kind act for a stranger , that he’s put up with a bit of negativity from others along the way. “I’ve been told I should get a haircut, I’ve been mistaken for a girl by complete strangers and I’ve even been told off for going in the men’s toilets,” he says. “It was all worth it though because I knew why I was doing it.”
And all that effort paid off on Tuesday, 7 July, when Xander finally had his hair cut at his school fair, cheered on by friends, teachers and family.
Meanwhile, a fundraiser set up by Xander to support the Little Princess Trust, the charity who make the wigs, absolutely skyrocketed. When Xander’s story was shared by Lowton and Golborne News, the local community responded in force — the post was seen more than 200,000 times, with hundreds of people leaving comments cheering Xander on and pledging to donate to his cause.
Xander asked not to know how much he had raised until he’d had the hair cut off… and was stunned to learn he’d inspired donations of more than £1,770!
The smile says it all! The moment Xander had his first hair cut in three years.
Of the moment his hair was finally cut, he said: “It was amazing. I didn’t feel nervous at all because everyone was cheering for me and encouraging me. It felt amazing.”
And to learn how much he’d raised? “It’s probably the most heartfelt moment of my life knowing that I’ve raised enough money to get three wigs, and knowing I will make a difference to those children’s lives,” Xander said.
His proud mum, Lee, said: “We are absolutely blown away by everyone’s generosity and have read each and every comment that’s been left, as has Xander, now he knows.
“It means so much that people think he’s as amazing as we do!”
He certainly is. What an incredibly thoughtful and generous thing he has done, well done Xander.
And if you’d still like to make a donation to the fundraiser, it’s not too late – you’ll find his fundraising page here.
Mrs Tina Christmas, School Business Manager at Golborne St Thomas’ CE J & I School said: “It takes a truly special kind of person to do something as deeply thoughtful as this, and our entire school community is incredibly proud of Xander.
“Xander was completely determined to do something important to support children living with cancer. He has shown an inspiring level of dedication and has simply refused to give up on his mission.
“Seeing a young person display this amount of empathy and drive has been profoundly moving for both our staff and his fellow pupils. The school community is rallying behind him, we are immensely proud, and we truly cannot sing his praises enough.
“Xander is an absolute credit to our school and a shining example of how one person’s kindness can unite a community.”
About The Little Princess Trust
The Little Princess Trust provides real hair wigs, free of charge, to children and young people who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment or to other conditions. The charity is also one of the largest funders of childhood cancer research in the UK. You can read more about them here.