Teen with Down's syndrome donates five feet of hair to charity

A girl with Down's syndrome has raised thousands of pounds for charity by donating more than 5ft (1.5m) of hair - and she is about to chop it again.

Keeley Thomas, 17, from Cambridgeshire, hoped her next haircut would top the £8,500 already raised for charities helping people with disabilities.

Her long locks will then go to the Little Princess Trust, which gives wigs to children having cancer treatment.

Keeley said it was a "good thing" to donate her hair when it got too long.

She had her first professional haircut when she was about five and only has it cut every few years, her mother Lindy Thomas said.

"I do like my long hair, but I hate it when it gets too long," said Keeley, who lives with her family in Fowlmere, near Royston.

"I love it when it's shorter - it feels good."

Lindy Thomas and Keeley are looking forward to their next haircutting charity event

To date she has donated 5ft 7in (1.7m) of her cut hair to the Little Princess Trust.

Next month she will have her fourth charity chop of another 2ft of hair (0.6m) at The Green Man pub in Shepreth.

She will be raising money for two causes. They are Home-Start - a charity in Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire supporting families who have children with physical, social and emotional needs, and Follow Your Dreams - a national charity that inspires young people with learning disabilities through creative and interactive events.

Little Princess Trust provides wigs for children undergoing various medical treatment

Keeley's long hair had always been important to her daughter, said Ms Thomas.

"When she was younger I used to have to stand her in the bath to wash it. Then when it was down to her knees, I said, 'Shall we give it to children who don't have any?' And she liked that idea," she said.

"Now we make every haircut a fun occasion, with sponsoring and a raffle - it makes her the centre of attention, which she loves."

Keeley was delighted when she bumped into TV presenter Cat Deeley during a show at the London Palladium earlier this summer

Keeley is a keen performer and member of a number of musical and theatre groups, including Project 21 in Cambridge, which offers activities for people with Down's syndrome, and runs clubs across East Anglia.

"I want to be a West End performer," said Keeley.

Her mother added: "I'd love her to be able to follow her dream and get on the West End stage - you never know."

Phil Brace, chief executive of the Little Princess Trust, said: "It's amazing to hear how Keeley has grown her hair and cut it on numerous occasions.

"The donated hair will be made into one of our amazing wigs, as without the support of people like Keeley we wouldn't be able to do what we do."