A BRAVE eight-year-old girl has her golden locks lopped off to raise funds for a motor neurone disease charity.

Summer Regan, who goes to Lawn Primary School, has so far managed to raise more than £400 for MND North Wiltshire, a charity which cares for those who suffer from the disease.

And she sent eight inches of her hair to Little Princess, an organisation that makes wigs for little girls who have lost their hair due to cancer treatments.

Summer chose to support the MND Association because her grandma Maureen King was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last year.

And Summer, who is a young carer for her 10-year-old brother Bradley, who has autism, remained fearless as she sat in the hairdresser’s chair at Kingsley Hair and Beauty, Peatmoor.

She said: “I’m feeling really good at the moment. I’m doing this for charity and for my Nan, so I’m not scared.

“I was a bit nervous before I got here, but I’m looking forward to seeing it when it’s done – though I don’t know what my friends will say.”

Mum Wendy Regan, 30, was beaming with pride as the first cuts were applied to her daughter’s long blonde hair.

She said: “She has wanted to get it cut for ages but she’s scared of what people will think, so she decided to do it this way.

“She has managed to raise around £430 so far and there’s still money coming in, so we are all really proud of her efforts.

“We want to get the word out there about motor neurone disease because it’s not very common, and this is a great way of doing that.”

MND is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks the upper and lower motor neurones, which leads to the wasting of muscles and serious difficulties with speech, swallowing and breathing.

Summer’s grandma Maureen was diagnosed with the disease last August, and she too is immensely proud of her.

Maureen said: “I am thrilled that she is raising money for the charity that supports me.

“I think she’s very brave. She has never really had it cut before, only trimmed, so it is a big step for her.”

Wendy also wished to thank staff and fellow pupils at Lawn for all the support they have given to Summer and Bradley.

“They have been brilliant with her, being a young carer,” she said. “And we are all very grateful.”

The family, who live in Park South, are aiming to raise as much money as they possibly can. To donate, log on to www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/wendy-regan

To find out more about motor neurone disease, or to get more information on the services provided by MND North Wiltshire, visit www.mndnorthwiltshire.org.uk