LEILA Smithhaynes never fails to be amazed at the generosity of both Herefordshire residents and those further afield.

During her time as donations manager with the Little Princess Trust – a charity providing wigs and hair pieces to children who have suffered hair loss through cancer treatment – she has received money from a huge cross-section of fund-raisers.

“The donations come from young and old alike and from people all over the country,” she said.

“Only this morning a £2,000 cheque arrived in the post from a company. The donations really are constant.”

She sends out thank you certificates to youngsters who have raised money, as well as banking the much-needed donations.

Leila, who lives in Hereford, says one donation that sticks in her mind was from a Londonbased man in his late 80s who asked family and friends to donate to the charity instead of buying him Christmas presents.

“I don’t stop opening the post, seeing cheques and going ‘wow, how generous’. I never get blasé about it.”

And despite the challenging economic times, donations are still on the up.

“People are still willing to donate. I think it’s because it benefits children; that is the big pull.”

Leila also compiles the charity’s annual newsletter, with this year’s due out later this summer.

Meanwhile, the trust has received an unusual request from one of its many supporters.

The mother of a young alopecia sufferer contacted the charity’s merchandising co-ordinator Christine Tarplee to see if it was possible to supply her with small charity gifts for a family wedding.

The girl, Bethany, is 10 years old and is one of the many youngsters who have so far benefited from a Little Princess Trust wig.

She was due to be a bridesmaid at her sister’s wedding, which took place close to the family home in Hove, East Sussex, last week.

The mother wanted a small item to give to the 150 guests at the wedding and settled on a butterfly badge attached to the trust’s pink charity ribbon.

Christine said the family, who have also raised £200 for the charity during a recent garden party, were delighted.

Elsewhere, a music concert hosted by staff at Hereford Cathedral Senior and Junior schools, along with visiting music teachers, has raised £626 for the charity. Held at packed St John’s M e t h o d i s t Church on St Owen Street, Hereford, the evening was compered by maths teacher Mike Taylor.

■ The Little Princess Trust is aiming to raise £130,000 to create a local store of wigs ready to answer an appeal for help within one week instead of the current eight weeks.

Anyone who is planning any fund-raising activities for the trust can let us know what they are doing by calling 01432 845884.

LITTLE PRINCESS TRUST FACTFILE:

■ Formed in 2006 following the death of five-year-old Hannah Tarplee

■ Provides wigs and hair pieces for girls and boys who have suffered from hair loss as a result of cancer treatment and other serious illnesses

■ Has helped close to 250 children across the UK

■ Wigs are custom made, mainly in the USA and China, using real hair partly supplied by the charity

■ Has no paid committee with the charity formed entirely by volunteers

■ Needs £130,000 to create a store of wigs allowing a cut in the current eight-week wait

■ The charity can be contacted on 0845 094 4509 or via email at info@littleprincesses.org.uk

■ Donations can be made via cheque, to Little Princess Trust, 28 Castle Street, Hereford HR1 2NW. Hereford branches of NatWest will host paying-in books for the public to give money. Donations can also be given by following Just Giving links at littleprincesses.org.uk