A young girl from Caterham, who has recently battled cancer, had her beautiful long locks cut off in support of other children who are going through gruelling cancer treatment.

Nine-year- old Emma Newton had her hair chopped on Friday at Toni and Guy in Reigate to raise money for Momentum children’s charity, a local charity that supports families of children with cancer and life-limiting conditions. She has already raised over £1,800.

Emma will also donate her hair to a charity that makes wigs for children who have lost their hair.

Dad Paul Newton said: “Emma was fortunate enough not to lose her hair as she had Proton Radiotherapy but she now wants to support other children going through cancer treatment who have sadly lost their hair.”

Emma was diagnosed with an optic glioma brain tumour, which had blinded her in her right eye, in November 2015, when she had just turned 8 years old. The family were referred to the Royal Marsden in Sutton where they were given the choice of a pioneering treatment called Proton Radiotherapy that was not currently available in the UK, but was available in the USA.

Paul said: "When we returned from Emma’s treatment in the States we were put in touch with Momentum who immediately took us under their wing. We’re quite new to the charity but already we have had so much support, emotionally and we are looking forward to our first Momentum family day out, where it will be lovely to meet all of the Momentum staff and the other families they look after.”

Donations can be made here http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/EmmaNewton

Momentum provides trip and treats and therapies such as play therapy and counselling and also has two holiday homes in the New Forest where it sends families for much needed respite breaks.

In addition to supporting up to 150 families of sick children across SW London and Surrey at any one time through its Family Support Programme, Momentum also helps to enhance the healing environment in local hospitals by undertaking refurbishment projects on Paediatric Units.

Momentum, based in Kingston-upon- Thames, receives no government funding so relies entirely on the support of the public and funds raised through its charity work. To find out more about the charity visit www.moment-um.org

To watch the video of Emma's haircut go to https://vimeo.com/216637210