East Ren kids champion charities

Our first of three fundraising heroes for this week is 12-year-old Shauna Docherty.

Shauna’s mum Joanne works closely with children’s charities the Kilt Walk and Simpson’s Memory Box Appeal (SiMBA), and will tackling five 26 mile kilt walks (for the second time) and climbing Machu Picchu in September.

It was the inspiration Williamwood High pupil Shauna needed to sign up for a charity hair chop — donating the proceeds to both charities and her hair to the Little Princess Trust, which makes wigs for children who have suffered hair loss through illness.

The youngster attended KZ Hair in Clarkston on Saturday and lost 11 inches from her hair — but gained £1,200 for SiMBA (a charity for parents who have lost children at birth) and the Kilt Walk.

Shauna wasn’t the only one braving the chop recently, as 14-year-old Zayna Syyed has been in touch after donating 12 inches of curly locks to the Little Princess Trust.

Zayna, also a Williamwood student, told The Extra: “I had heard that it was possible to sell hair, and while searching this strange idea online I found that you could donate it instead. I decided this was a far better idea, and my mum supported my decision.

“I’ve been growing it for two years — I miss my long hair now, but I know it has gone to a good cause.”

And last but not least is our youngest charity challenger; seven-year-old Blair Young, who featured in The Extra in February as he trained for the Cani-x 4-mile challenge alongside his trusted yellow labrador, Isla.

Blair and Isla managed to run 4.18 miles in an hour last weekend with support from members of his chosen charity, Canine Partners, which trains specialised assistance dogs.

The Carolside Primary pupil raised £505, and was presented with a medal from Canine Partners, as well a certificate from local politicians Jim Murphy MP and Ken Macintosh MSP at a recent school assembly.