Seven-year-old having hair chopped for charity because she never met her brother

A kind-hearted seven year old, Posie Stewart from Charfield, Gloucestershire, is having all her hair cut off this week to raise funds for Bristol-based charity Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF), because her brother Oscar sadly died from a type of meningitis and septicaemia.

Posie’s mum, Rachael Stewart explains, “When my baby boy Oscar was seven months old, in April 2005, he became seriously ill with pneumococcal septicaemia. His first symptoms were refusing to eat, very sleepy, very cold feet and hands, and then vomiting. Within hours Oscar was being treated in intensive care in Bristol. Oscar pulled through thanks the amazing care and treatment he received.

“Sadly, a month after Oscar had been released from hospital, the disease returned, and he was fighting for his life in hospital once again. Unfortunately, due to his body still recovering from the first case of the disease, he struggled to fight it a second time. Posie is sad that she never got to meet her big brother but we’re incredibly proud of her for wanting to raise funds in his memory.”

Posie has been growing her hair long for nine months in preparation for the big chop which will see her getting a pixie cut on Thursday 29th March in Dursley. The hair will be given to The Princess Trust who make wigs for children with cancer.  

Posie said, “I want to raise as much as possible for Meningitis Research Foundation who helped my mummy and daddy when my brother died. I’m sad that I do not know my brother and I don’t want anyone else to not have their brother like this. I also hope my hair will make someone with cancer smile.”

Posie has already raised £1,700 and donations are being accepted online at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/posie-stewart

Rob Dawson, Director of Support at MRF said, “Meningitis and septicaemia are deadly diseases that can strike without warning, killing one in ten, and leaving a third of survivors with life altering after-effects, some as serious as deafness, brain damage or limb loss.

“We're so grateful to Posie, and everyone who has donated in memory of Oscar. These funds will help us enormously with our work including our research, awareness and support programmes to ensure that other families don’t have to go through what Oscar’s has as a result of meningitis and septicaemia.”