Kim Lambert, of Newark, donates hair and raises funds for the Little Princess Trust

A real-life Rapunzel has donated a half a metre of her hair to make a wig for sick children.

Kim Lambert, from Newark, has donated 50cm (20ins) of her hair to the Little Princess Trust, a charity that provides wigs made from real hair free of charge to children and young people who have lost their own hair due to cancer treatment or other illnesses.

Kim, a play assistant at St Peter’s Early Years in Farndon, has had long hair all her life, and as she hadn’t cut her hair for more than a year prior to the big cut, she could sit on it as it had got so long.

She said: “I have thought about donating it for months but don’t even like getting a small trim.

“My hair was getting quite difficult to do things with and tie up for work as I work with children ­— they call me Rapunzel. It was so long to fit in a bun and takes so long to brush and wash.”

Kim said it felt like a huge weight had been lifted when her hair was cut as her hair was quite heavy, and she is still trying to get used to having such short hair.

She said: “My first hair wash and shower was the quickest and easiest thing. Usually my hair takes a few hours to dry naturally and I have to schedule it.

“It feels really strange and so short, when I brush it, it just stops. It will make life super easy.

“I am really happy with how it has turned out, and think I will get really used to it.

“I was scared and thought I’d be having to hide it. I couldn’t imagine how it was going to turn out. It was really worth it.”

Kim has so far raised over £500 for the Little Princess Trust.

She said: “I could cry at the generosity.

“I have never fundraised before so the support is lovely and so worth it. The total keeps going up, especially now I have had it cut.”

She said: “I am so excited to hopefully make someone super happy and feel like a princess with my hair. I know my hair will grow back, but some children don’t have this opportunity.

“Not everyone is able to grow or have their own hair, and I am pleased I can share mine with them and make them feel special too.”

To make a donation to Kim’s appeal, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kim-lambert4