Northland nine-year-old Ruby loses locks, raises more than $2000

Nine-year-old Ruby Tauri is donating 42cm of her hair, and more than $2000, to cancer causes. Photo / Lara Tauri

A 9-year-old Northland girl has raised more than $2000 for child cancer by lopping off her hair.

Ruby Tauri, of Russell, was inspired to sacrifice her long locks after a young neighbour and her aunt were both diagnosed with cancer.

Her hair got the chop on Friday at Russell Hair Co, leaving her with a short bob and 42cm of her thick brown hair which will be used to make wigs for people with cancer or conditions such as alopecia.

She also set up an online donation page which as of yesterday had raised $2264.28.

The money will be donated to the Child Cancer Foundation while her locks were posted to Freedom Hair, a wig-making company in Dunedin, on Monday.

Nine-year-old Ruby Tauri is donating 42cm of her hair, and more than $2000, to cancer causes. Photo / Lara Tauri

Proud mum Lara Tauri said Ruby had been ''completely blown away'' by the support she had received from her extended family and the Northland community.

The Year 4 pupil at Russell School initially aimed to grow 37cm of hair and raise $100.

''I just want to help people and make them happy," Ruby said.