Saved by the Belle
A kind hearted young girl from Enfield has cut and donated her hair to a charity that makes wigs for childhood cancer patients.
Big hearted Belle Mulligan (10) cut an unbelievable eight inches off her hair so it could be used by The Little Princess Trust for wigs for children who lose their hair due to intensive cancer treatment.
The caring girl who attends Catherine McCauley National School in Baggot Street in Dublin decided to donate her hair after a similar act of kindness carried out by relation inspired her to do the same as mum Grace explains:
“Her older cousin a few years ago cut her hair and donated it and belle remembered that and she said she wanted to do it too.
“Eight inches came off in all and she was so happy that she was able to help a child going through cancer treatment.
“She has even started growing her hair again so that in a couple of years she can do it again.”
The budding young conservationist from Enfield whose dream it is to move to the Amazon to save endangered species has decided to continue her humanitarian efforts by raising funds for an animal sanctuary that is close to her heart.
Belle who is vegetarian and refused to eat meat from the time she was a toddler is a huge supporter and believer in conservation and and allowing animals to be free to live and thrive in the wild.
One of her favourite places in the world is the Eagles Flying sanctuary in Sligo. The Irish Raptor Research Centre is a sanctuary for birds of prey and owls and carry out incredible work in educating the public on the importance of conservation and the value of all animals to the ecosystem.
The aspiring activist’s proud mum, Grace, says it’s no surprise that her caring daughter wanted to take part in this kind deed. She said:
“She’s one of those kids who is into conservation and has been since she was tiny. From the time she was able to talk she decided that she wasn’t eating meat and she was absolutely adamant about that and would say why would you eat another animal, animals are like people.
“That’s what she wants to do what she grows up; her dream is to move to the Amazon and save the Orangutans!
“She could tell you the name of any obscure animal that most of us wouldn’t know, she is just so passionate about caring for and protecting wildlife and keeping them in their natural environment.
“She has a monthly subscription to the National Geographic Animal Magazine and that is just her favourite thing to get. Belle is dyslexic and attends a reading school, so it is fantastic for her from that side of things as well.
“Her little sister Abigail has made a little birdhouse outside our home, so they sit there and watch the birds every day.”
The Enfield mum explain how animal lover Belle became interested in the Sligo based sanctuary.
“We were on holidays in Sligo about five years ago and we came across Eagles Flying, a sanctuary and a research centre, they have all sorts of birds of prey but they also take in to rehabilitate them and try to release them into the wild.
“She really loved it down there and it really stuck with her as to what it is that they do and how important it is.
“Every year since then we have gone there to visit at least once.”
To donate search “Belles Eagles Flying Fundraiser” on GoFundMe.