Mother donates hair to charity in honour of neonatal support

A devoted mother of four boys from South Molton is set to make a remarkable gesture of kindness by donating her ankle-length hair to charity. 

Ruth Davey, who has been growing her hair for years with this specific intention, will have it all cut off on Sunday, 1 September, at around 2.45pm during a Fire Service open day in Exeter.

ABOVE: Ruth showing the length of her hair

Ruth's long locks will be donated to the Little Princess Trust, a charity that creates wigs for young people who have lost their hair due to medical conditions.

But her act of generosity doesn’t stop there; she is also raising funds for SNUG, a charity that supports families who have had children in Neonatal Units or Special Care Baby Units (SCBU).

She will also be going for a Guinness World Record Attempt, with the current record at 155cm.

The decision to support SNUG is deeply personal for Ruth.

In 2023, her son Dexta was born five weeks early due to pre-eclampsia and had to spend time in the neonatal unit at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (RDEH). 

As Ruth recalls: “When we were nearing the time to come home, we found Dexta had meningitis. SNUG and the team at the RD&E in Exeter were so kind and caring.”

The experience left a lasting impression on Ruth, who is eager to give back to the charity that supported her family during such a challenging time.

“I’ve been growing my hair for quite a few years with donating to charity in mind,” Ruth shared.

“I am hoping that my hair can go to someone in need. My hair will grow back, but for others, it may not be so easy.”

Ruth’s hair, which currently reaches her ankles, measures an impressive length, especially given that she stands at five foot, eight inches tall. 

Over the years, she has only had minor trims, typically just a few inches at a time. 

Her last significant haircut was around six and a half years ago when she had it cut from mid-calf length to the middle of her back. 

However, this time, with charity in mind, Ruth has decided to go even further.

“I’ve decided to cut my hair and donate it to charity to share the hair and hopefully let someone else get some joy from it,” Ruth explained.

“I thought, if I'm going to raise money for charity, I might as well go a little bit further.”

Ruth’s hair donation will likely bring joy and comfort to children and young people who are going through tough times. 

Meanwhile, her fundraising efforts for SNUG will provide much-needed support to families facing the challenges of neonatal care.

As the day of the big cut approaches, Ruth remains focused on the impact her donation will have on others. 

“I am hoping that my hair can go to someone in need. It’s a small thing I can do to make a difference.”

To support Ruth in her fundraising efforts for SNUG, donations can be made here: https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/big-hair-chop and https://www.justgiving.com/page/james-tripp-1723635961995?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fjames-tripp-1723635961995&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share