ON hearing the sad news that her Auntie Sharon has cancer, eight year-old Isabelle Howe, known as ‘Izzy H’ to her friends, is trying to make a difference.

Wanting to help as many people as possible, Izzy’s first target is to grow her hair so that it can be cut and made into a wig by The Little Princess Trust for children who have lost their hair through cancer. All the money raised will also go to this charity.

Izzy said: “I have a little way to go and hope to have my hair cut at the end of September, then my hair will be made into a wig and given free to a little boy or girl who has the same hair colour as me.”

Sadly, Izzy is not unaccustomed to family members being unwell, as only two years ago she was having to come to terms with her father, Gary Howe, needing a life-saving kidney transplant.

Sarah Howe, Izzy’s step-mum, said: “At the time, her friends and their families, along with the fantastic staff at All Saints Infant School in Tilford, were amazing in helping us keep everything ‘normal’ so there was as little impact on the children as possible.”

Izzy is now a pupil at South Farnham School who likes “swimming and hockey and whizzing around on my heelies”. She has an older brother, 14 year-old Henry, who attends Weydon School.

She said: “I have a very kind family that I love very much.”

After the family received the devastating news that her Grandad Bob would not be able to be her father’s donor, it was a waiting game as to when a potential donor would come available. Izzy remained positive and always helped her father when he was on dialysis, playing ‘Nurse Izzy’.

After Gary received ‘Kevin Kidney’, she now has to face that her auntie has cancer.

Sarah added: “In typical Izzy style, she thinks of others first and puts a positive spin on things. Her compassion for her cousin whose mummy is ill is humbling.”

Izzy has already smashed her target of £250, having raised £1,190 when the Herald went to print.

To make a donation, visit Izzy’s JustGiving page at justgiving.com/fundraising/izzyhowe8.