Ten-year-old girl cuts hair for grandfather with cancer

Richard Slocock, 72, of Tolpuddle, was diagnosed in September with cholangiocarcinoma, a liver cancer occurring within the bile ducts.

His cancer is terminal and he is being treated with medication which relieves his pain but will not cure his illness.

He has two daughters, three grandsons and one granddaughter, Molly.

Molly decided to cut her hair to try and raise money for the charity AMMF which works to raise funds for research into cholangiocarcinoma.

Ten-year-old Molly with mother Jennifer and Grandfather Richard (Image: Jennifer Mason)

She also sent her hair to the Little Princess Trust which will use the hair to make wigs for girls who have lost their hair during cancer treatment.

Jennifer Mason, 41, is Molly's mother and Richard's daughter.

She grew up in the family home in Tolpuddle where Richard and his wife have lived for 45 years after building themselves.

Jennifer and Molly now live in Gloucestershire but regularly visit Dorset.

Jennifer said: "My dad was diagnosed in September, it came as a bit of a shock to us.

"With bile duct cancer it is very difficult to detect in the early stages and often it is too late when they find it.

"His cancer is terminal, we are not sure if he will have treatment.

"He is doing ok at the moment, while he is feeling well we are doing as much as we can together, we are a very close family."

Having never had her hair cut before, Molly donated 41cm of her hair to the Little Princess Trust, which was the maximum amount that could be donated.

Jennifer added: "Molly was very brave, she had her hair cut for the first time and it all went successfully.

Molly with her long her before it was cut (Image: Jennifer Mason)Molly after the hair cut, holding her hair for the Little Princess Trust (Image: Jennifer Mason)

"At first she was a little nervous thinking she might miss her hair but we had a good afternoon in the end.

"When we decided to do the haircut, my dad was overwhelmed and touched."

The family are now aiming to spend as much time together with Richard.

Jennifer said: "Hopefully we have a few months of time together, we are trying to organise as many things as possible as a family.

"It has been very difficult and challenging but we are trying to make memories now because we feel like we are on borrowed time."