A Margate teenager who has grown his hair over the last five years while going in and out of hospital due to kidney disease will now have it cut off for charity.
Ronnie Wood, 17, has chronic kidney disease (CKD) which is a long-term condition where the kidneys do not work as well as they should.
In 2019 Ronnie had a kidney removed and over the last 10 years he has spent as much time in hospital as he has at home.
Mum Katie Croud said: “When Ronnie was younger he was in hospital at least once a month and has spent half of the last ten years there. He has had surgery and had a kidney removed.
“In the last couple of years he has been doing really well although hospital treatment is ongoing.”
Ronnie, who wants to join the Navy or Armed Forces when he turns 18 in March, says he decided to grow his hair as it was one of the only things he could control.
And he wants to help other youngsters by donating his hair – which currently measures 37 inches – and the sponsorship money raised to the Little Princess Trust.
The Trust provides real hair wigs, free of charge, to children and young people who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment or to other conditions such as Alopecia.
The charity is also one of the largest funders of childhood cancer research in the UK.
Ronnie said: “I decided to donate it because I know what it’s like to not be able to control something. I thought that since I can control my hair I’d give to the ones who can’t.”
Ronnie is currently studying GCSEs online through Runway Training due to missing out on school, particularly during covid as his condition meant he was in a high risk category.
Mum-of-two Katie said: “He is such a selfless person and wanted to give something back, He knows how it feels to be in hospital and just wants to put a smile on the face of a little girl or little boy.”
Ronnie, who is into fitness and cooking, will be getting a Peaky Blinders, Arthur Shelby style short cut at Kings Barbers in Birchington on October 11.
Each wig provided by the Little Princess Trust costs £700 to make.
Ronnie has set a £1000 target on his fundraising page but hopes to raise more if possible.
