Scarborough schoolgirl fundraising again after raising thousands in memory of dad

A Scarborough schoolgirl will donate her hair again after raising more than £2,500 for charity before her 11th birthday.

Scarlett Howarth, 10, will have her hair cut for a second time on 4th July in aid of The Little Princess Trust, which provides real-hair wigs to children and young people who have lost their hair through cancer treatment and other conditions.

She will be joined by her cousin Sophie, who has been inspired by Scarlett's kindness and determination to help others. Together they have launched Chop for Charity 2.0, their joint fundraising campaign.

Scarlett first donated her hair in February 2024, raising £1,070 for the charity while her father Damian Howarth was undergoing treatment for oesophageal cancer. Five months later, Damian died following complications from surgery that was intended to save his life.

Despite facing unimaginable heartbreak at such a young age, Scarlett continued to show remarkable courage and compassion, using her experiences to help others. In July 2025, on the first anniversary of her father's passing, Scarlett took on another fundraising challenge named Dare4Damo by her mother Michelle. The then nine-year-old tackled Velocity at Zip World in Wales, the fastest zip line in the UK, raising £1,450 for The Boys' Brigade 5th Scarborough, a cause close to the family's heart as Damian had volunteered as a leader with the organisation for many years.

With her earlier fundraising, Scarlett has now raised more than £2,500 for charities supporting children, young people and the local community.

Michelle described her daughter as "a ray of light in the darkness" with "the biggest heart and the most magical personality". She said: "No matter what life has thrown at her, she always thinks of others first. What she has achieved over the last two years has been incredible. Through all the sadness and challenges she has faced, she has continued to choose kindness and find ways to help other people."

Scarlett said she hoped her latest hair donation would help children facing difficult circumstances. "I wanted to do it again because it helps other children," she said. "Growing my hair takes a long time, but it is worth it if it makes someone smile and feel more confident."

The girls will have their hair cut together on 4th July. Anyone wishing to support them can donate through their JustGiving page, Chop for Charity 2.0, at www.justgiving.com/page/chopforcharity-2. Every donation will help The Little Princess Trust and the vital work they do for children and families across the UK.