The Big Chop for Hospice

Sometimes, it’s the things we barely notice, like hair, that mean the most until they’re suddenly gone.

Hi, my name is Ella Metcalf. I’m 15 years old and live in the South Canterbury area. In just under a month, it will be nine long years since I lost my grandma, G.

My grandma, Nikki, fought cancer with incredible courage but lost her battle far too quickly at just 65. She had already beaten breast cancer once, but when it returned in her liver, it was far too aggressive. Watching someone you love go through cancer changes you forever. You see their strength, fear, and pain, and realise how deeply unfair it all is. Chemotherapy doesn’t just fight cancer; it takes away parts of someone’s identity too. Hair might seem small, but it’s deeply personal. It's the thing you recognise when you look in the mirror. While G was lucky enough to receive a wig, so many people aren’t.

That’s why, on the 22nd of February, I’ll be cutting 35.5 cm of my hair and donating it to the Wig Foundation to help create wigs for people in need.

But this journey is about more than hair. During G’s final months, she was cared for in hospice. They supported my family and me with compassion and dignity when we needed it most. If you’re able to donate, it would mean the world to me. Your support will help the hospice continue caring for families during their hardest moments.

Thank you for helping me turn something painful into something meaningful 🤍