Bury St Edmunds: Four-year-old Connie Balaam donates her long locks to charity making wigs for children undergoing cancer treatment

A cut above: Four year old Connie Balaam from Ingham who is having her hair cut off to raise money for EACH (Image: Archant)

The four-year-old, from Ingham, near Bury St Edmunds will have her hair cut off at CC’s Hair Art in St John’s Street, Bury, on May 17 in aid of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).

Connie will donate her hair – all 11 inches of it – to the Little Princess Trust, which makes wigs for children suffering hair loss due to cancer treatment.

Connie’s 16-year-old sister Madi receives care from EACH as she has a number of complex health conditions including Noonan’s syndrome, epilepsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and oppositional defiant disorder.

She also has autistic spectrum disorder and two heart conditions known as mitral valve regurgitation and ventricular hypertrophy.

Due to the complexity of her healthcare needs, Madi requires specialist 24/7 care – something which only her very close family and EACH can deliver.

For the past 12 years the Balaam family has received short-break and overnight care for Madi at the Milton hospice, as well as music therapy, hydrotherapy and trips organised by care staff.

They have also made use of sibling support and advice and guidance from the family support team.

Connie and Madi’s parents Sharon and Adrian Balaam, also have a 20-year-old son, Toby, and a six-year-old son, Noah.

Mrs Balaam, 45, said: “I’m so incredibly proud of Connie for wanting to help EACH and Little Princess Trust.

“Connie saw a story about a little girl in America who cut off her hair to make wigs for poorly children and she decided she wanted to do the same while raising money for EACH.”

She added: “We wouldn’t be a family without EACH. I can’t even begin to imagine what life would be like without them.”

To donate, go to justgiving.com and search for Connie’s hair cut. To support EACH visit www.each.org.uk.