When eight-year-old Ella Bate cut her hair last month to donate to cancer patients, it was her mum who became emotional.

The year 3 student cut almost 25 centimetres off her hair on December 27 and donated the locks to Pantene Beautiful Hair so they could make a real hair wig for women who lost theirs during cancer treatment.

The St John’s Dapto primary school pupil said her teacher encouraged the students to be charitable.

Illawarra youngsters reading beyond their age

‘‘My teacher said to do something for someone on the school holidays on Christmas,’’ Ella said. ‘‘I wanted to donate it to kids with cancer.

‘‘It just popped into my mind because Jesus was born at that time and he was a very giving person.’’

Her mother, Katie Brooks, said as soon as the locks were cut, Ella wanted to regrow her hair to repeat the donation.

‘‘I don’t know where she got the idea from,’’ she said.

‘‘My dad died of cancer, so we talk a bit about him, I think that was part of the reason.

‘‘I was [emotional], because she’s got amazing hair, but it’s gone to a really good cause, so you can’t complain about that.’’