A SIX-YEAR-OLD girl who raised thousands of pounds for Age Concern by cutting her long locks attended a special lunch as a guest of honour yesterday at which she saw the impact of her charitable act first-hand.
The organisation held a party for its members using some of the money raised by Eliza Millen-Swainston, after she encouraged Islanders to donate to the charity by having her hair, which was 31 inches long, cut into a bob.
A fundraising page set up by Eliza and her family, who have also been accepting in-person donations in town, had received £3,337 at the time of writing.
The event – which included live music, cake and bingo – marked one year since Age Concern’s move to its new premises in Val Plaisant, and gave its members the opportunity to thank the primary-school student for her efforts.
‘I’ve enjoyed today. There were lots of songs,’ said Eliza, adding that she was ‘really happy’ to have raised more than £3,000.
‘It’s been fun and I met lots of new people. I’ve had a really great adventure.’
Paul Simmonds, senior manager at Age Concern, said he was ‘in awe’ of Eliza’s fundraising endeavour, and that the charity had invited her to attend the lunch as a ‘guest of honour’.
‘We wanted to do something tangible rather than use it [the funds] for administrative purposes. It’s wonderful to see the younger generation connect with our members and the charity. We’d like Eliza to be a regular visitor, as everyone has taken to her,’ he added.
Eliza’s mother, Maryjane, said: ‘There was a band playing, food and bingo – it was lovely.
‘They wanted to present Eliza with a certificate and a toy voucher so she was absolutely thrilled.’
She added that she was ‘incredibly proud’ of Eliza and her older sister, Alice, who also raised money for the charity by cutting her hair in 2015.
