Mia loses her locks for friend’s new wheelchair

A LOCAL girl has had 12 inches of her hair cut off to help raise money for a friend who needs a new wheelchair.

Eight-year-old Mia Mclaren was inspired to organise the fundraiser after hearing the story of six-year-old Mya Macey-Plested who needed £7,000 for a new special wheelchair.

Mya was born at 28 weeks with a spinal cord injury, leaving her an incomplete tetraplegic which affects her arms and legs, meaning she is unable to walk and needs a wheelchair to get around.

“I’m really proud of her but sick with nerves,” said Mia’s mother Natalie Mclaren, minutes before her daughter sat in the hairdresser’s chair.

“But this has all been Mia’s idea. All of a sudden after meeting Mya, she said I am going to have my hair cut and I am going to raise money for Mya.”

To show their support, Mya and her mother Lauren Plested came along to The Base Hair and Beauty salon in Bowerhill to watch Mia lose her locks. “I am happy that Mia is getting her hair cut for my new wheelchair,” said Mya, with some encouragement from her mother.

Under the watchful eye of hairdresser Vanessa Robinson, Mya and Mia’s younger brother Rhys helped to cut Mia’s hair, before Vanessa finished the job leaving Mia 12 inches lighter on top.

“I’m really shocked, and it feels unusual to have short hair, but I like it,” said Mia admiring her new hair style in the mirror.

Mia has raised nearly £1,400, which will be divided equally between Mya’s new wheelchair and the charity Little Princess Trust, who will also benefit from her hair donation.

Mia’s hair will be used to help make a real hair wig for a child that has lost their own hair due to cancer treatment or other illnesses.

Mia’s fundraiser is one of many events that have taken place in Melksham over the past few months for Mya, with people jumping out of planes, running half marathons, hosting parties and making donations, all towards getting a new wheelchair to replace the one she is outgrowing.

The community’s efforts have paid off and Mya and her family recently paid a visit to Stoke Mandeville Hospital to pick out a new wheelchair.

“My wheelchair will be pink and purple again with pink spokes,” said Mya proudly.