A KIND-HEARTED sister is cutting her long locks off in support of her wee brother who is battling leukaemia.

Brooklyn McArthur, nine, a pupil at Bellyeoman Primary School, will donate her hair to the Little Princess Trust and raise money for the ward at the Sick Kids Hospital in Edinburgh who have been looking after her half-brother, Maison Sutherland, aged four.

Maison was only three when he was diagnosed with the illness last summer and watching him fight the horrible disease has made Brooklyn want to help her brother and others like him by donating her long brown hair for wigs.

Brooklyn’s mum, Roseienne, said: “She decided on her own that she wanted to cut off her hair.

“It’s very long but she told me, ‘It will grow back mum’.

“It’s now at the point that Maison’s hair is falling out so I think that’s made her think.

“She’s planning not to get it cut until October though because she says she wants to make it as long as she can.

“The target is to raise £500 for the Little Princess Trust but hopefully from other donations and a raffle, we’ll also pass on funds to the Sick Kids ward.

“Brooklyn struggled to understand what was happening at first to Maison but the hospital has been brilliant with the little packs they have given to her and Maison’s other sister, Brodie-Leigh.

“She even did a presentation about leukaemia at school and now she seems to take it in her stride and wants to fundraise.

“It’s been horrible to see the family go through this but we all have a close connection and their grandparents have just been amazing.”

Maison, who is yet to start school, has been placed on a three-year treatment plan to tackle his leukaemia.

This has involved a lot of time going back and forth to hospital for himself and his sisters.

Grandfather Gordon Sutherland said: “Last August, Maison took a temperature and went into a fit.

“He was first in Kirkcaldy but then was put into a coma at the Sick Kids hospital where they started to do testing.

“Eventually, they found out it was leukaemia and it has been all go since then.

“Maison seems to have just taken it in his stride and he has had no problem taking his medications.

“He knows he is unwell but whether he knows more than that it is hard to tell because he is so young.

“He had to stop going to nursery but he is due to start school in the summer. It will be a case of seeing how he gets on.”

“It is a lot to take in, you think the worst.

“His dad, Scott, and mum, Leanne, have to educate themselves about leukaemia because it’s all new to us, so at first you don’t really know what’s going on.”

Gordon added: “It’s very heartwarming what Brooklyn’s doing, hopefully she will raise a couple of pounds!

“It’s not been an easy time for herself or her sister. Unfortunately, we’re all still going through it and will be for a long time.”

To donate, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/brooklyn-maison