A COURAGEOUS school girl has gone to extreme lengths to raise money for charity by chopping off her long hair.

Twelve-year-old Leah Waddington from Barrow decided to brave the chop after her sister's best friend at university Sam died suddenly last month. 

The Year Eight pupil who attends St Bernard's School in Barrow is hoping to raise as much cash as possible for the mental health charity Mind. 

Leah, who only decided on her plan last Thursday, will also be donating her thick red locks to the Little Princess Trust Charity which makes wigs for children with cancer. 

Leah said: "I'm feeling really good and proud of myself. I wanted to do it because I like helping people and I wanted to raise money for charity." 

Leah's sister, Bethan Waddington, 20, who studies children's nursing at Salford University, has set up a Just Giving page in memory of her 20-year-old friend Samantha McDonald. 

Since setting it up last week the Just Giving page has already raised more than £500. 

Leah's mum, Helen Waddington of Middle Hill, Barrow, said: "Big sister Bethan is at Salford Uni and she lost her friend a couple of weeks ago and we just wanted to raise some money in her memory, so Leah decided that she would have her hair cut off. 

"Bethan asked her friend's parents if they would like her to raise money and they chose Mind, so we set up a Just Giving page and she has raised £600." 

Leah faced the chop at Coco Hair Salon in Dalton Road, Barrow, on Saturday. 

After a quick brush, hairdresser Abbey Dent plaited Leah's long locks into pigtails before chopping them both off. 

Before Leah said goodbye to her long hair, she managed to raise another £35 inside the hairdressers. 

Mrs Waddington continued:"She is really blessed to have such long beautiful hair when there are children out there who aren't so lucky. 

"It is just a lovely gift for someone who is a little bit unfortunate, so she is really happy about doing it."

Mrs Waddington said that Leah has always been known for her long hair. 

She added: "We cut an inch of it now and again but she has never had short hair, always long; she was born with lots of hair. 

"Last night she was on the iPad and kept checking how much money she had raised. It got to about to 11pm and I said, 'I think you can stop looking now, people will be in bed.'"