Lucy's Big Chop: The Sequel

In December 2022 I donated 17 inches of hair to the Little Princess Trust and I decided that I was going to go straight back to growing my hair so I can do it again! Now, 2 years and 8 months later, I'm ready to go again but this time I'm chopping it all off and plan to donate around 24 inches! I've had very long and thick hair for most of my life so I'm nervous and excited to take it all off! I'll be looking more P!nk than Sinead O'Connor though...

Last time, I did my fundraising for The Little Princess Trust, however, this time, I am picking a charity much closer to my heart to fundraise for. I was diagnosed with Narcolepsy in October 2023 although I have been symptomatic for over 10 years. It is a lifelong neurological disorder which affects the brain's sleep-wake cycles and has a massive impact on every aspect of my life.

Narcolepsy UK is an amazing charity providing help and support for people with Narcolepsy, their families and friends, employers, and everyone else with an interest in learning more about this condition. Their website has loads of really useful information and resources and they have volunteers who help people like me to understand more about Narcolepsy, what help is available to them, and to find a sense of community by connecting people together online and in-person.

Personally, their website was a great start for me to learn more about myself and to refer to during medical appointments. Occupational Health at my work used the resources on the Narcolepsy UK website to learn more about the condition and referred to them in my fitness to work report. One of the amazing benefits advisors is helping me one-to-one to write my PIP application, and access to the Facebook group has connected me with many people with Narcolepsy and their families and friends which has provided me with moral support and also valuable advice on what to discuss with medical professionals and even finding a specialist who is much better for me than my original referral. 

Unfortunately, Narcolepsy UK does not get a lot of funding and relies mostly on donations. The support they provide is 100% free and they are absolutely a needed charity and I would like to give back to them for all the support they have provided to me and continue to provide to me and thousands of others. Please consider donating to this wonderful charity so they can continue to provide vital support to people like me who have no idea where to start with this rare disorder.