A DANCE instructor inspired to donate her hair by an American friend has raised more than £600 for the Little Princess Trust.

Karen Oates, who runs a dance school near Nottingham, wondered what would happen to her long hair when she had it cut.

But a six-month trip to the United States gave her the inspiration after meeting a woman who gave her hair to charity.

Back home, she searched the internet and found the Little Princess Trust – an appeal supported by the Hereford Times – which provides wigs for children who have suffered hair loss through cancer treatment.

“I put up posters at my dance school and got students to sponsor me,” she says. “My kids swim for a club and the club sponsored me too.”

“I work with children every day, so I could imagine how a child may feel if they were to lose their hair through illness.”

● Motorists can show their support for the trust later this year by wrapping their cars in pink.

The second annual Pink Car Rally on September 6 will see vehicles in trust colours make the journey from Hereford to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Last year motorists drove from the city to Bristol Children’s Hospital.

“Last year was great and about raising awareness – this year we want to raise as much money as possible,” said the organiser of the event, Sali Gray. Sali can put fund-raisers in touch with a company that will ‘wrap’ vehicles with a temporary pink film.

For more details of the event and to get involved, visit pinkcar- rally.com or call Sali on 01452 618899.