After seeing the devastating effects of cancer little Joni Taylor decided to cut her cherished waist-length locks to raise money to help those who didn’t choose to lose theirs.

The Comet: Dawn Taylor with Joni, 8 and her pigtails which she has cut off to raise money for Cancer Hair CareDawn Taylor with Joni, 8 and her pigtails which she has cut off to raise money for Cancer Hair Care (Image: Archant)

Until Friday Joni, aged eight, hadn’t had her hair for 18 months because she wanted to look like Rapunzel.

But the Year 3 pupil at Lodge Farm Primary School in Mobbsbury Way had eight inches of her beloved pigtails lopped off at Lyn Ward Hair and Beauty in The Oval, Pin Green, to raise money for Stevenage-based Cancer Hair Care – a charity which supports women and girls who lose their hair to cancer.

Mum Dawn said: “It went really well. She loves her hair and was really nervous beforehand, but on the day she was fine.”

Joni was inspired to do something after seeing one of her mum’s friends and her teacher lose their hair to breast cancer.

The Comet: Joni TaylorJoni Taylor (Image: Archant)

“I asked lots of questions about why it happened, if it happens to lots of people and if it happens to children, too,” she explained.

Dawn then showed her a video of a girl who lost her hair to cancer and she decided to do something.

As well as donating her hair she wanted to raise £350 to pay for one wig.

She has already raised twice that target and is encouraging more people to donate. To find out more visit www.justgiving.com/JoniT.